ectocommensal

[ ek-toh-kuh-men-suh l ]
/ ˌɛk toʊ kəˈmɛn səl /

adjective

Biology. (of an organism) living in a commensal relationship on the exterior of another organism.

noun

an ectocommensal organism.

Origin of ectocommensal

First recorded in 1935–40; ecto- + commensal

OTHER WORDS FROM ectocommensal

ec·to·com·men·sal·ism, ec·to·com·men·sal·i·ty [ek-toh-kom-en-sal-i-tee] /ˌɛk toʊˌkɒm ɛnˈsæl ɪ ti/, noun ec·to·com·men·sal·ly, adverb