ectocommensal

[ek-toh-kuh-men-suhl]

adjective

1. Biology.,  (of an organism) living in a commensal relationship on the exterior of another organism.

noun

1. an ectocommensal organism.

Other Word Forms

• ectocommensalism noun
• ectocommensality noun
• ectocommensally adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of ectocommensal¹

First recorded in 1935–40; ecto- + commensal