symbiote

noun

sym·​bi·​ote ˈsim-bē-ˌōt How to pronounce symbiote (audio) -ˌbī- How to pronounce symbiote (audio)
plural symbiotes
: an organism living in symbiosis : symbiont
The thing in the crevice was some sort of vegetative symbiote, I conjectured. It fed its companions foods that it manufactured from air, water, subterranean temperature variances (if it had deep roots), and probably other lichens as well as minerals leached from the rock.—Matthew Hughes

Examples of symbiote in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The story takes some dramatic twists and the Venom symbiote amplifies the game's overall aggression. — George Yang, PC Magazine, 1 May 2026 Venom and a host of other symbiotes held captive at Area 51 manage to stop Knull’s army of monstrous alien Xenophages from acquiring the Codex. — Richard Newby, Vulture, 25 Oct. 2024 Eyes that light up and lever-activated smashing arms make the scary symbiote — which runs on 3 AG13 button cell batteries (included) — that much more fun to play with! — Ew Staff, EW.com, 20 Nov. 2024 Much of the resistance is left to symbiotes released from the lab, which instantly find compatible hosts in the Imperium staffers and occasionally manage to escape the ravenous jaws of the xenophages. — David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 23 Oct. 2024 See All Example Sentences for symbiote

Word History

Etymology

perhaps borrowed from French, borrowed from Greek symbiōtḗs "companion, partner," from symbiō-, variant stem of symbioûn "to live together" + -tēs, agent suffix — more at symbiosis

First Known Use

1877, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of symbiote was in 1877

Browse Nearby Words

symbiosis
symbiote
symbiotic
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Symbiote.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/symbiote. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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