fungi
1 Americanplural noun
noun
noun
combining form
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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
At the heart of current research is the oral microbiome, the community of hundreds of bacteria, fungi and other microbes that live in the mouth.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 26, 2026
"It really changed my perspective towards plants," he said, his expressive face lighting up as he explained mycorrhiza, a symbiotic association between fungi and plant roots.
From Barron's ● Jun. 19, 2026
Legend has it that the outlaw Robin Hood used the Major Oak's hollow trunk - which in fact was caused by fungi - as his hideout.
From BBC ● Jun. 17, 2026
Beneath the ground, vast networks of fungi quietly support plant life and play an important role in regulating the planet's climate by helping move carbon into soils.
From Science Daily ● Jun. 15, 2026
That crumbling horror, that evil lake, the fungi, the extensive decay!
From "The Martian Chronicles" by Ray Bradbury
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Fungi without these genes were much less successful at infecting bark beetles, showing that the detoxification process is critical for overcoming the beetles' chemical defenses.
From Science Daily ● Jan. 1, 2026
This September, I dove into the universe of mycotourism myself at All Things Fungi, a celebration of mushrooms that’s been compared to the renowned Glastonbury music festival.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2025
The company provides the mushrooms for Real Mushrooms, an online sister firm that sells fungi supplements, and is a rival to Fungi Perfecti.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 18, 2025
Fungi can have white collar proteins and cryptochromes for detection of blue light, opsins that detect green light, and phytochromes for red light.
From Salon ● Apr. 15, 2025
“It’s true. Fungi are as distinct from plants as animals are.”
From "Strange the Dreamer" by Laini Taylor
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.