parazoan

[ par-uh-zoh-uhn ]

noun

1. any member of a group of invertebrates comprising the phylum Porifera, the sponges.

adjective

1. of or relating to a parazoan organism.

parazoan

/ ˌpærəˈzəʊən /

noun

1. any multicellular invertebrate of the group Parazoa, which consists of the sponges (phylum Porifera ) Compare metazoan

Word History and Origins

Origin of parazoan¹

< New Latin parazo ( a ) ( para- ¹, -zoa ) + -an

Word History and Origins

Origin of parazoan¹

C19: from parazoa, formed on the model of protozoa and metazoa, from para- ¹+ Greek zōon animal