parasite
noun
an organism that lives on or in an organism of another species, known as the host, from the body of which it obtains nutriment.
parasites
-
pluralof parasite.plural
The grammatical form denoting more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
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.
Bedbugs are small, wingless parasites that can live on clothes, furniture and bedding.
From BBC ● Oct. 12, 2026
For example, before vaccines kick in, sharing a litter box with another house cat risks transferring parasites.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2026
Jumping genes are genetic parasites found in bacteria, plants, animals, and humans.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 5, 2026
A portion of the raw stool is transferred into a centrifuge, where it’s spun to concentrate the parasites and make them easier for scientists to spot under a microscope.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 5, 2026
When I’m nervous or sad I also fall prey to the awful itch from filaires, tiny parasites that crawl into your pores and cause a flare-up every so often.
From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver
