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Definition of porifera

porifera

/pəˈrɪf.ər.ə/
po · rif · er · a
Plural:porifera
•
Adjective:poriferan
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porifera Lexical Profile

• noun

1

A major phylum of primitive, mostly marine aquatic invertebrate animals that comprises the sponges, characterized by a highly porous, asymmetrical body that lacks true tissues or organs and relies on a constant flow of water to filter food and absorb oxygen.

Example

"During the marine biology lab, the students examined several specimens of Porifera under the microscope to study their intricate canal systems and spicules."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for porifera

• Rhymes for porifera

• Nearby Words

porcupine river
porcupinefish
porgy
porifera
pork
pork belly
pork chop

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the 1830s in Modern Latin taxonomy, derived from Latin 'porus' (pore) and 'ferre' (to bear), combined with the neuter plural suffix '-a'.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Porifera. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 19, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/porifera
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