Definition

A type of single-celled organism that is usually very small and can be found in many different environments. These organisms can move and often feed on other small organisms.

Example

The pond was full of protozoans swimming around in the water.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of a protozoan?

Yeah, I think they're those tiny organisms that live in water, right?

Exactly! Some of them can even cause diseases in humans.

That's pretty interesting. I didn't know they were such a big deal!

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Protozoan → It is formed from "proto-" (from Greek "protos", meaning first) and "zoon" (from Greek "zōon", meaning animal). The word "protozoan" refers to the first or primitive forms of animal life, typically single-celled organisms.

Memory Tip

Think of 'first' ('proto-') forms of 'animal' ('zoon') to remember that a protozoan is a primitive, single-celled animal.

Visually Confused Words