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Definition of zooplankton

zooplankton

/ˌzoʊ.əˈplæŋk.tən/
zoo · plank · ton
Plural:zooplankton
•
Adjective:zooplanktonic
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zooplankton Lexical Profile

zooplankton Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

Plankton consisting of small, mostly microscopic animals (such as copepods, krill, and rotifers) and the immature larval stages of larger aquatic organisms that drift in oceans, seas, and bodies of fresh water, serving as a vital link in aquatic food webs.

Example

"Baleen whales filter massive quantities of water to feed on krill and other nutrient-rich zooplankton."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for zooplankton

• Nearby Words

zoom
zoomable
zoomer
zooplankton
zorilla
zoroastrianism
zorro

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the late 19th century by combining the Ancient Greek prefix 'zoo-' (from 'zōion', meaning animal) with 'plankton' (derived from 'planktós', meaning wandering or drifting).

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Zooplankton. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 6, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/zooplankton
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