parasitism
/ˈpæɹəs(a)ɪˌtɪzm̩/ noun
Forms parasitisms
- noun (ecology, biology) Interaction between two organisms, in which one organism (the parasite) benefits and the other (the host) is harmed.
- noun (figuratively) A similar interaction between people or things. “We accused her of parasitism in taking his hard-earned money for new dresses.”
Etymology
From parasite + -ism. Cognate with French parasitisme and Portuguese and Spanish parasitismo.
Webster’s 1913
- noun The state or behavior of a parasite; the act of a parasite. "Court parasitism." Milton.
- noun The state of being parasitic.
Etymology [Cf. F. parasitisme.]
Sources: Wiktionary · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “parasitism”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details