(in some classification systems) any organism belonging to the kingdom Protista, originally including bacteria, protozoans, algae, and fungi, regarded as distinct from plants and animals. It was later restricted to protozoans, unicellular algae, and simple fungi
See also protoctist
Word origin
C19: from New Latin Protista most primitive organisms, from Greek prōtistos the very first, from prōtos first
protist in American English
(ˈproʊtɪst)
noun
Biology
in some systems of classification, any of a kingdom (Protista) of one-celled organisms,as algae, yeasts, or protozoans, having characteristics found in both plants and animals