parasite: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Formal, Technical, Pejorative (when referring to people)
Quick answer
What does “parasite” mean?
An organism that lives on or in another organism (the host), deriving nutrients at the host's expense and causing harm.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An organism that lives on or in another organism (the host), deriving nutrients at the host's expense and causing harm.
A person who habitually relies on or exploits others, giving nothing in return.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major differences in meaning or spelling. Both variants use the word identically.
Connotations
Equally strong pejorative connotation when referring to people in both dialects.
Frequency
Slightly more common in American media/political rhetoric for metaphorical use.
Grammar
How to Use “parasite” in a Sentence
[parasite] + on/upon + [host/organisation/person]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “parasite” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The mould parasitised the entire rose bush.
- (Rare) He seemed to parasitise every social group he joined.
American English
- The fungus parasitized the oak tree.
- (Rare) She accused him of parasitizing her family's goodwill.
adverb
British English
- (Very rare) The organism lived parasitically within the host tissue.
American English
- (Very rare) The company operated almost parasitically, leveraging its partner's infrastructure.
adjective
British English
- The wasp has a parasitic lifestyle.
- They investigated the parasitic relationship.
American English
- Ticks are parasitic arachnids.
- He ended the parasitic partnership.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used literally. Metaphorically: 'The consultant firm was seen as a parasite, draining resources without delivering value.'
Academic
Common in biology, medicine, ecology, and sociology. 'The study examined the lifecycle of the malaria parasite.'
Everyday
Primarily used in its metaphorical, negative sense. 'Stop being a parasite and get a job!'
Technical
Precise biological term: 'An obligate parasite cannot complete its lifecycle without a host.'
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “parasite”
Strong
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “parasite”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “parasite”
- Using 'parasite' neutrally to describe a close friend who stays over often (too strong).
- Confusing 'parasite' (harmful) with 'commensal' (one benefits, other unaffected) or 'mutualist' (both benefit).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, there are many plant parasites like mistletoe (which is a hemiparasite) and dodder, which derive nutrients from other plants.
In computing metaphor, 'virus' is the standard term for malicious, self-replicating code. 'Parasite' is rarely used, but if it is, it emphasizes the code's dependence on a host program to function and cause harm.
In its literal biological sense, it is a neutral descriptive term. In any social, moral, or metaphorical context, it is strongly negative.
A mutualistic relationship, where both organisms benefit (e.g., bees and flowers). Another opposite is a free-living or independent organism.
An organism that lives on or in another organism (the host), deriving nutrients at the host's expense and causing harm.
Parasite is usually formal, technical, pejorative (when referring to people) in register.
Parasite: in British English it is pronounced /ˈpærəsaɪt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈpɛrəˌsaɪt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “He's nothing but a parasite on society.”
- “Living like a parasite on his family's wealth.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a pair of sites (PARA-SITES): one site (the host) provides everything, and the other site (the parasite) just takes and lives there for free.
Conceptual Metaphor
HUMAN EXPLOITATION IS PARASITISM (e.g., 'draining the lifeblood of the company', 'feeding off her generosity').
Practice
Quiz
In a social context, calling someone a 'parasite' implies they are: