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Definition of plankton

plankton

/ˈplæŋk.tən/
plank · ton
Plural:plankton
•
Adjective:planktonic
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plankton Lexical Profile

plankton Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

The small and microscopic organisms, including algae, protozoa, and tiny crustaceans, that drift or float in great numbers in fresh or salt water, serving as a vital base of the aquatic food chain.

Example

"Baleen whales filter massive quantities of water to feed on krill and other marine plankton."

Antonyms
View all antonyms for plankton

Word Nuance & Usage

"Plankton" is typically treated as a collective mass noun (singular or plural in construction), though the plural "planktons" is occasionally used in scientific writing to refer to distinct communities or types of plankton.

• Rhymes for plankton

• Nearby Words

planetwide
plank
planking
plankton
planner
planning
plano

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in 1887 by German marine biologist Victor Hensen from Ancient Greek "planktos" ('wandering, drifting'), derived from the verb "plazein" ('to cause to wander, drive astray').

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Plankton. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/plankton
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