commensal

[ kuh-men-suhl ]

adjective

1. eating together at the same table.
2. Ecology. (of an animal, plant, fungus, etc.) living with, on, or in another, without injury to either.
3. Sociology. (of a person or group) not competing while residing in or occupying the same area as another individual or group having independent or different values or customs.

noun

1. a companion at table.
2. Ecology. a commensal organism.

commensal

/ kəˈmɛnsəl; ˌkɒmɛnˈsælɪtɪ /

adjective

1. (of two different species of plant or animal) living in close association, such that one species benefits without harming the other
2. rare.
   of or relating to eating together, esp at the same table

   commensal pleasures

noun

1. a commensal plant or animal
2. rare.
   a companion at table

Derived Forms

• comˈmensally, adverb
• comˈmensalism, noun
• commensality, noun

Other Words From

• com·mensal·ism noun
• com·men·sal·i·ty [kom-en-, sal, -i-tee], noun
• com·mensal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of commensal¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English word from Medieval Latin word commēnsālis. See com-, mensal ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of commensal¹

C14: from Medieval Latin commensālis, from Latin com- together + mensa table

Example Sentences

The term described the “ecological community of commensal, symbiotic, and pathogenic microorganisms” that live in and on our body.

From Nautilus

The shells of hermit-crabs serve frequently as the home of other animals which live with them a commensal life.

From Project Gutenberg

Pinnixa cylindrica, a related species, lives in the tubes of large annelid worms as a commensal.

From Project Gutenberg

Heretofore, as far as I know, it has only been recorded as a tube commensal with a large Amphitrite.

From Project Gutenberg

Plants or other materials used in their construction and any commensal arthropods present were saved and later identified.

From Project Gutenberg

From them Schaudinn decided that the poisonous action of the mosquito bite is caused by an enzyme from a commensal fungus.

From Project Gutenberg