epipelagic

American

[ep-ee-puh-laj-ik] / ˌɛp i pəˈlædʒ ɪk /

adjective

of or relating to the stratum of the oceanic zone where enough light is present for photosynthesis to occur.

epipelagic British

/ ˌɛpɪpəˈlædʒɪk /

adjective

of, relating to, or inhabiting the upper zone of the ocean from just below the surface to approximately 100 metres deep

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of epipelagic

First recorded in 1935–40; epi- + pelagic

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

For instance, a variety of plants and animals thrive in the epipelagic, or sunlight, zone—the top layer of water, where light is strong and pressure is relatively low.

From Scientific American • Jun. 21, 2023

The thin, top layer is the “sunlight” or epipelagic zone, which receives enough light for photosynthesis by phytoplankton, algae and some bacteria.

From Scientific American • Aug. 6, 2022

The photic zone is also known as the epipelagic zone.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2015

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023