fungal
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of fungal
First recorded in 1825–35; from New Latin fungālis; see fungus, -al 1
Explanation
Fungal things have something to do with a fungus, or an organism that produces spores. The most familiar fungal species are mushrooms. Yeasts and molds are fungal, and if you see a mildewed area on the wall of your shower, you can say, "Will someone please clean this fungal mess?" The fungal organisms that bear fruit are mushrooms, which you might think of as plants but which really exist in an entirely separate category from plants and animals. Fungal and fungus both come from the Latin, with the probable Greek root sphongos, "sponge."
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.
One growing concern involves another fungal pathogen, B. salamandrivorans, which is threatening salamander populations in Europe and could pose a serious danger to salamanders in North America.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 3, 2026
By uncovering the biological changes that helped some frogs survive and recover, scientists may also gain valuable insights into protecting vulnerable species from future fungal epidemics.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 3, 2026
“It’s kind of like adding a line of code, so that once the plant is reacting to, say, fungal pressure, it’s going to start producing a protein that creates an optical signal,” says Aronov.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 19, 2026
Elsewhere, Indiana-based Insignum AgTech is designing corn crops whose leaves turn purple in reaction to fungal diseases and pests.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 19, 2026
I peeked through my crusty eyes as a fungal zoo of a toe prodded my arm, and a grizzled, bearded face framed by ashy predawn light leaned over me.
From "We Are the Ants" by Shaun David Hutchinson
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