Definition

A type of simple organism that is usually made up of a single cell and belongs to a group of living things that are not plants, animals, or fungi.

Example

The pond was full of different kinds of protists, including tiny algae and amoebas.

Conversation

I just learned about a fascinating organism called a protist in my biology class.

Oh really? What makes a protist so interesting?

They're so diverse, some are unicellular while others are multicellular!

That sounds cool! I didn't realize there were so many types of protists.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Protist → The word is derived from the Greek "protos" (meaning first) and the suffix "-ist" (meaning one who practices or is concerned with). The term "protist" refers to a group of diverse, primarily microscopic organisms that are considered to be among the first forms of life on Earth.

Memory Tip

Think of 'first' ('protos') to remember that 'protist' refers to some of the earliest forms of life.

Visually Confused Words