Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

parasitism

/ˈpæɹəs(a)ɪˌtɪzm̩/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.27 in modern English

Syllables: par-a-sit-ism
IPA: /ˈpæɹəs(a)ɪˌtɪzm̩/

14

Scrabble Score

10

Letters

4

Syllables

7

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

Interaction between two organisms, in which one organism (the parasite) benefits and the other (the host) is harmed.

Uncountable

noun

A similar interaction between people or things.

Uncountable

Example Sentences

"We accused her of parasitism in taking his hard-earned money for new dresses."
"These devices' energy consumption is parasitism upon the electrical grid."
"Either theſe men imagine themſelves to be marvelouſly high ſet and exalted in the chair of Belfaſt, to vouchſafe the parliament of England no better ſtile than Servants, or elſe their high notion, which we rather believe, falls as low as court paraſitiſm ; ſuppoſing all men to be ſervants, but the king."

Etymology

From parasite + -ism. Cognate with French parasitisme and Portuguese and Spanish parasitismo.

Word Breakdown

Suffix: parasite

Usage

Uncountable

Inflected Forms

parasitisms (plural)

Derived Forms

adelphoparasitism alloparasitism autoparasitism ectoparasitism endoparasitism epiparasitism holoparasitism hyperparasitism kleptoparasitism monoparasitism multiparasitism mycoparasitism

Phrases

brood parasitism self-parasitism

Questions

How do you pronounce parasitism?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈpæɹəs(a)ɪˌtɪzm̩/.
What does parasitism mean?: Interaction between two organisms, in which one organism (the parasite) benefits and the other (the host) is harmed.
Where does parasitism come from?: From parasite + -ism. Cognate with French parasitisme and Portuguese and Spanish parasitismo.

How to pronounce parasitism

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “parasitism”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈpæɹəs(a)ɪˌtɪzm̩/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “parasitism”.
Repeat and practice — Say “parasitism” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.