commensalism

noun/kəˈmɛnsəlɪzəm/

Frequency rank: #19,983 most common English word

Meaning

A type of relationship between two organisms in which one benefits and the other is neither helped nor harmed.

Illustration for the English word “commensalism”

Example sentence

The relationship between barnacles and whales is often cited as an example of commensalism in nature.

Synonyms & related words

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