noun

plankton

/ˈplæŋktən/ · say it: PLANGK·tun

tiny drifting organisms in oceans and lakes

In Science & Nature

In more detail

1. (noun) tiny plants and animals that live in water and form the base of many food chains

2. (noun) these organisms considered as a food source for fish and other sea animals

Examples

1. The ocean's plankton provides food for whales and other marine life.
2. Fish depend on plankton to survive.

How to use plankton

Plankton is used in marine biology and ecology to refer to microscopic organisms drifting in water bodies. It is a key concept in understanding aquatic food webs and ecosystem health. The term is often used in scientific, educational, and environmental contexts, and can refer to the collective group or individual organisms depending on usage.

Common phrases

plankton blooms
plankton-eating fish
rich in plankton
filter-feeding on plankton
plankton levels

Synonyms

microorganisms · marine life · zooplankton · phytoplankton

Word family

planktonic (adjective) · zooplankton (noun) · phytoplankton (noun)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes treat plankton as a countable noun (saying 'a plankton' or 'planktons'), when it is typically used as a mass noun referring to the entire population or category.

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