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• Protozoa
  Protozoa

  noun

  a major grouping or superphylum of the kingdom Protista, comprising the protozoans.
• protozoa
  protozoa

  Single-celled animals, such as amoebas, that are the most primitive form of animal life. In modern biology, they are classified in the kingdom of Protoctista rather than in the animal kingdom. (See Linnean classification.)

Protozoa

American  

[proh-tuh-zoh-uh] / ˌproʊ təˈzoʊ ə /

noun

1. a major grouping or superphylum of the kingdom Protista, comprising the protozoans.

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protozoa Cultural  

1. Single-celled animals, such as amoebas, that are the most primitive form of animal life. In modern biology, they are classified in the kingdom of Protoctista rather than in the animal kingdom. (See Linnean classification.)

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Discover More

Some protozoa are parasites and may be pathogenic, causing diseases such as malaria and dysentery.

Etymology

Origin of Protozoa

From New Latin, dating back to 1825–35; see origin at proto-, -zoa

Compare meaning

How does protozoa compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• protist vs. Protozoa

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Protozoa protozoa

A24 secured the rights to Walter Isaacson's biography on the world's richest person, according to the source, who added the Musk biopic will be produced by Aronofsky's production company, Protozoa Pictures.

From Reuters ● Nov. 10, 2023

Private investors came aboard, as did executive producer Darren Aronofsky and his Protozoa Pictures, allowing the filmmakers to tell the tough and at times bleak story they wanted without pulling any punches.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 1, 2022

“You are all Protozoa experts equipped to judge and advise me, right?”

From New York Times ● Dec. 5, 2015

The Royal Court season opens with Bruce Norris's satire Clybourne Park, and the Red Room's temporary venue, the Jellyfish, has Simon Wu's Oikos to be followed in mid-September by Kay Adshead's Protozoa.

From The Guardian ● Aug. 27, 2010

General notes on the Protozoa; classification; reproduction; life-cycle of various forms.

From Insects and Diseases A Popular Account of the Way in Which Insects may Spread or Cause some of our Common Diseases by Rennie Wilbur Doane

The host of life on ice includes bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa, even microscopic animals like nematodes, some dead and some alive in suspended animation.

From Salon ● Apr. 24, 2025

Bottom line: If you must have tropical milkweed, cut it down to the ground each fall before it goes to seed, to kill any overwintering protozoa and reduce its potential to spread to neighboring areas.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 30, 2023

Food turns into compost through the hard work of small microorganisms like bacteria, fungi, and protozoa.

From National Geographic ● Sep. 26, 2023

You should make sure that you use only distilled, sterile or boiled water for your rinses, as tap water can contain small amounts of bacteria and protozoa that carry the risk of other infections.

From Seattle Times ● Oct. 31, 2022

Ben had awakened that morning, while it was still dark, with the butterflies, the old, invisible protozoa of fear that invaded the stomach on the days of contests or of testing.

From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy