eukaryote

noun

eu·​kary·​ote (ˌ)yü-ˈker-ē-ˌōt  -ət  -ˈka-rē- 

variants or less commonly eucaryote

: any of a domain (Eukarya) or a higher taxonomic group (Eukaryota) above the kingdom that includes organisms composed of one or more cells containing visibly evident nuclei and organelles compare archaea, bacterium, prokaryote

Examples of eukaryote in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Early eukaryotes later evolved into the multicellular organisms credited for ushering in a whole new era for life on Earth, including animals, plants, and fungi. —David Bressan, Forbes, 27 Dec. 2024

The discovery confirmed that archaeans, bacteria and eukaryotes can all exchange these RNA messages. —Quanta Magazine, 18 Dec. 2024

The research team looked specifically at records of ancient marine eukaryotes — organisms whose cells contain a nucleus. —David Bressan, Forbes, 27 Dec. 2024

And in China, scientists discovered fossils of multicellular eukaryotes dating to 1.6 billion years ago (opens a new tab) — pushing the timeline for eukaryotic multicellularity back by some 600 million years. —Quanta Magazine, 18 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

New Latin Eukaryotes, proposed subdivision of protists, from eu- + kary- + -otes, plural noun suffix, from Greek -ōtos — more at -otic

First Known Use

1943, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

eukaryote

noun

eu·​kary·​ote (ˌ)yu̇-ˈke(ə)r-ē-ˌōt 

ˈka(ə)r-

: an organism composed of one or more cells with clearly viewable nuclei

Medical Definition

eukaryote

noun

eu·​kary·​ote

variants also eucaryote

(ˈ)yü-ˈkar-ē-ˌōt  -ē-ət 

: any of a domain (Eukarya) or a higher taxonomic group (Eukaryota) above the kingdom that includes organisms composed of one or more cells containing visibly evident nuclei and organelles compare prokaryote

eukaryotic adjective

also eucaryotic

-ˌkar-ē-ˈät-ik