free-living organism
/ˈfriː ˈlɪvɪŋ ˈɔːɡənɪzəm/ · free·liv·ing or·ga·nism
noun
- An organism that lives independently, obtaining its nutrients and energy without relying on a host, as opposed to a parasitic organism. Many soil bacteria are free-living organisms that play crucial roles in nutrient cycling.
Synonyms
autonomous organismindependent organismnonparasitic organismself-sustaining organismfree-living speciesnon‑host‑dependent organismself‑sufficient organismautotrophic organism
Antonyms
Did you know? The model bacterium Escherichia coli, a classic free-living organism, was first isolated from human intestines but can thrive in laboratory media without any host, making it indispensable for molecular biology research.