Commensal

//kəˈmɛnsəl// adj, noun

adj, noun ·Moderate ·College level

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    An organism partaking in a commensal relationship.

    "The tree did indeed grow right out of the algae, as I had seen from the lifeboat. There was not the least trace of soil. Either there was soil deeper down, or this species of tree was a remarkable instance of a commensal or a parasite."

  2. 2
    either of two different animal or plant species living in close association but not interdependent wordnet
  3. 3
    One who eats at the same table.

    "Colville ordered it, and was sorry when the last of his commensals, slightly bowing him a good-night, left him alone to it."

Adjective
  1. 1
    Of a form of symbiosis in which one organism derives a benefit while the other is unaffected. not-comparable

    "The fish (AMPHIPRION PERCULA) "intel-intel" of the blacks, is said to be commensal (literally, dining at the same table with its host), as distinguished from the parasite, which lives on its host."

  2. 2
    Eating at the same table. not-comparable
Adjective
  1. 1
    living in a state of commensalism wordnet

Synonyms

All synonyms
cannibalcannibalisticcarnivorouscoactingcoactivecoadjutant

Example

More examples

"The fish (AMPHIPRION PERCULA) "intel-intel" of the blacks, is said to be commensal (literally, dining at the same table with its host), as distinguished from the parasite, which lives on its host."

Etymology

From Middle English commensal, from Old French commensal, from Medieval Latin commensālis, from com- + mensa (“table”) + -ālis.

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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.