parasitic
par-uh-SIHT-ihk
Parasitic (adj) means relating to or behaving like a parasite, living off another organism or person. Example: “The vine has a parasitic relationship with the tree it climbs.”
adj
1
Relating to or behaving like a parasite, living off another organism or person.
"The vine has a parasitic relationship with the tree it climbs."
"Critics called the scheme parasitic, draining money from struggling families."
How to use parasitic
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishLiving off, or draining resources from, another organism or person without giving anything back.
Common pairings
parasitic relationship
parasitic infection
parasitic behaviour
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Word forms
- Plural
- parasitics
- Comparative
- more parasitic
- Superlative
- most parasitic
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The vine has a _____ relationship with the tree it climbs.
Etymology
From parasite + -ic.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for parasitic
See all rhymes for parasitic →Frequently asked questions
What does “parasitic” mean?
The word “parasitic” means relating to or behaving like a parasite, living off another organism or person. In plain terms, living off, or draining resources from, another organism or person without giving anything back.
How do you pronounce “parasitic”?
“Parasitic” is pronounced par-uh-SIHT-ihk (/ˌpɛɹ.əˈsɪt.ɪk/ in IPA).
How do you use “parasitic” in a sentence?
Here is “parasitic” used in a sentence: “The vine has a parasitic relationship with the tree it climbs.”
What part of speech is “parasitic”?
“Parasitic” is an adjective.
Is “parasitic” a common word?
“Parasitic” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C2 level.
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