endosymbiosis

noun

en·​do·​sym·​bi·​o·​sis ˌen-dō-ˌsim-bī-ˈō-səs How to pronounce endosymbiosis (audio) -bē- How to pronounce endosymbiosis (audio)
: symbiosis in which a symbiont dwells within the body of its symbiotic partner
endosymbiont
ˌen-dō-ˈsim-bī-ˌänt How to pronounce endosymbiosis (audio) -bē- How to pronounce endosymbiosis (audio)
noun
endosymbiotic
ˌen-dō-ˌsim-bī-ˈä-tik How to pronounce endosymbiosis (audio) -bē- How to pronounce endosymbiosis (audio)
adjective

Examples of endosymbiosis 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.
By inducing endosymbiosis, researchers could potentially engineer plants to metabolize pollutants or manufacture medicines. — Molly Herring, WIRED, 26 Jan. 2025 These experiments show just how delicate the early stages of endosymbiosis are—the initial disadvantage to the host could have led to an unsuccessful match under natural conditions. — Barbara A. Perry, Newsweek, 27 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1932, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of endosymbiosis was in 1932

Rhymes for endosymbiosis

See All Rhymes for endosymbiosis

Browse Nearby Words

endosymbiosis
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Endosymbiosis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/endosymbiosis. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

Medical Definition

endosymbiosis

noun
en·​do·​sym·​bi·​o·​sis ˌen-dō-ˌsim-bī-ˈō-səs How to pronounce endosymbiosis (audio) -bē- How to pronounce endosymbiosis (audio)
plural endosymbioses -ˌsēz How to pronounce endosymbiosis (audio)
: symbiosis in which a symbiotic organism lives within the body of its partner
endosymbiotic
-ˈät-ik How to pronounce endosymbiosis (audio)
adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on endosymbiosis

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about endosymbiosis

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

More Commonly Misspelled Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

What do SCOTUS, POTUS, and FLOTUS mean?

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden

More Words with Remarkable Origins

Terroir, Oenophile, & Magnum: Ten Words About Wine

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments
See More

Popular Features

See More

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

What do SCOTUS, POTUS, and FLOTUS mean?

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
dog-in-disguise
Rhyme Disguise Quiz Pair up words that look different but sound alike.
See All