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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

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Compare meaning

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

• protist vs. Protozoa

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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

Still undecided as to whether they belong with bacteria or Protozoa, probably the latter.

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

Organisms that can survive in this suspended, or anabiotic, state, Yarzábal explained, include not just extremophile bacteria but also viruses, fungi, protozoa and microscopic animals called nematodes.

From Salon ● Apr. 20, 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

Insects are beset not only by viruses and bacteria but also by fungi, protozoa, microscopic worms, and other beings from all that unseen world of minute life that, by and large, befriends mankind.

From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson

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