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• fungi
  fungi

  plural noun

  a plural of fungus.
• Fungi
  Fungi

  noun

  a taxonomic kingdom, or in some classification schemes a division of the kingdom Plantae, comprising all the fungus groups and sometimes also the slime molds.
• fungi-
  fungi-

  a combining form representing fungus in compound words.

fungi

¹ American  

[fuhn-jahy, fuhng-gahy] / ˈfʌn dʒaɪ, ˈfʌŋ gaɪ /

plural noun

1. a plural of fungus.

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Fungi ² American  

[fuhn-jahy, fuhng-gahy] / ˈfʌn dʒaɪ, ˈfʌŋ gaɪ /

noun

(used with a plural verb)

1. a taxonomic kingdom, or in some classification schemes a division of the kingdom Plantae, comprising all the fungus groups and sometimes also the slime molds.

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fungi- ³ American  

1. a combining form representing fungus in compound words.

   fungicide.

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fungi- ¹ British  

combining form

1. fungus

   fungicide

   fungoid

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fungi ² British  

/ ˈfʌndʒaɪ, ˈfʌndʒɪ, ˈfʌŋɡaɪ /

noun

1. a plural of fungus

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fungi Cultural  

1. sing. fungus Plantlike organisms lacking chlorophyll, such as mushrooms, molds, yeasts, and mildews. Modern biologists tend to place fungi in their own kingdom, not in the plant kingdom, because they get their nutrients from other living things (or from the remains of living things that have died) rather than from photosynthesis. (See under “Medicine and Health.”)

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Usage

What does fungi- mean? The combining form fungi- is used like a prefix meaning “fungus.” It is occasionally used in scientific terms, especially in biology. The form fungi- comes from Latin fungus, meaning “fungus.” It is possible that fungus is related to Greek spóngos, meaning "sponge," by way of a long-lost substrate language of the Mediterranean. What are variants of fungi-?When combined with words or word elements that begin with a vowel, fungi- becomes fung-, as in fungemia.

Etymology

Origin of Fungi

From New Latin; see origin at fungus

Example Sentences

The bioengineer, who runs a lab at Stanford University in California, is experimenting with fermentation using fungi.

From BBC • Jun. 4, 2026

But as they grow, fungi can break down the cellulose and convert it into protein.

From BBC • Jun. 4, 2026

Researcher Cameron Egan, an ecologist and professor at USC, will extract DNA from each soil sample and send it for sequencing to learn what species of mycorrhizal fungi are present.

From Los Angeles Times • May 19, 2026

While viral infections are the most common cause in the United States, bacteria, parasites and fungi can also cause the condition.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 28, 2026

She stuffed mushroom-like fungi in her pockets, and bits of reindeer moss.

From "Julie of the Wolves" by Jean Craighead George