eukaryotes

eukaryotes — noun

1. Living things such as animals, plants, and fungi whose cells have a clearly defi

1.nounB2
Definition

Living things such as animals, plants, and fungi whose cells have a clearly defined nucleus and other inner structures separated by a membrane; this biological group includes all life forms other than bacteria and archaea.

Example

In biology class, Meera learned that humans, insects, and mushrooms are all eukaryotes.

definitional context: listing members of the group

Unlike bacteria, eukaryotes store their genetic material inside a protective nucleus.

contrastive structure: unlike + prokaryote group

Common collocations
  • eukaryotes (such as / including) plants and animals
  • eukaryotes evolved
  • eukaryotes are characterized by
  • the group of eukaryotes
  • eukaryotes and prokaryotes
Antonyms
  • prokaryotes

    Organisms without a membrane-bound nucleus, such as bacteria and archaea; the two groups together cover all cellular life on Earth.

Usage Note

Often contrasted with prokaryotes (bacteria and archaea), which lack a membrane-bound nucleus. This is the defining distinction taught in introductory biology.

Common Mistakes

Eukaryotes is a type of bacteria.
Eukaryotes are a separate group from bacteria and archaea.
Eukaryotes and bacteria are two distinct domains of life; the key difference is the presence of a nucleus.
Humans are not eukaryotes because we are complex.
Humans are eukaryotes because our cells have a nucleus.
All animals, including humans, are eukaryotes.

Word family

  • eukaryote
    nounB2
  • eukaryotic
    adjectiveB2
  • Eukarya
    nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Eukaryotes and prokaryotes are the two fundamental divisions of cellular life. Eukaryotes (from Greek eu- 'true' + karyon 'nucleus') have a membrane-bound nucleus and organelles such as mitochondria and the endoplasmic reticulum; this group covers animals, plants, fungi, and protists. Prokaryotes (from Greek pro- 'before' + karyon) lack these structures and include bacteria and archaea. The broader term organisms refers to any living individual — prokaryotic or eukaryotic — while microbes (or microorganisms) are organisms too small to see with the naked eye and include members of both groups. For example, E. coli is a prokaryotic microbe, while yeast is a eukaryotic microbe. Learners often mistakenly treat these terms as interchangeable: 'eukaryotes' names a specific domain-level group, not simply any living thing.

eukaryotes ↗prokaryotesorganisms ↗microbes ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • eukaryotes and prokaryotes
  • eukaryotes (such as) plants
  • eukaryotes (including) fungi
  • eukaryotes (like) animals
  • group of eukaryotes
  • evolution of eukaryotes

Phrases

  • eukaryotes are characterized by
  • eukaryotes are distinguished from
  • eukaryotes evolved from
  • all eukaryotes share

Etymology

GreekFrenchEnglish

Coined in the early 20th century from Greek elements eu- meaning 'good, true' and karyon meaning 'nut, kernel' — a reference to the true nucleus that defines these organisms. The term was introduced as a counterpart to prokaryote, where pro- means 'before', reflecting the earlier evolutionary appearance of bacteria-like cells without a nucleus.

First known use

1943

1943, in the meaning defined above