parasitism
noun
par·a·sit·ism ˈper-ə-sə-ˌti-zəm 
-ˌsī-,
ˈpa-rə-
1
: the behavior of a parasite
2
: an intimate association between organisms of two or more kinds
especially : one in which a parasite obtains benefits from a host which it usually injures
3
: parasitosis
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Their survey, published in 2017 in the journal Western North American Naturalist, turned up 13 species of parasites affecting 8 different species of fish and became the first record of fish parasitism in Lake Powell. 
Melina Walling, The Arizona Republic, 11 June 2022 As native lake trout and burbot were decimated in Lake Michigan by overfishing, pollution and sea lamprey parasitism through the early and mid-1900s, alewife numbers soared. Paul A. Smith, Journal Sentinel, 8 June 2022 Although there are few long-term data sets on any parasite species, there are one-off studies that document the abundance of parasitism at a particular place and time. Rachel Nuwer, Scientific American, 28 Apr. 2022 The only way to test this hypothesis would be to compare present parasitism rates with those from the past. Rachel Nuwer, Scientific American, 28 Apr. 2022 Biologists have observed, over long periods of time, that species that are obligate parthenogens frequently die out from disease, parasitism or changes in habitat. Mercedes Burns, CNN, 27 Dec. 2021 That’s because dozens of bird species are thought to engage in some form of brood parasitism, each with their own violent flair. Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 26 Oct. 2021 This practice is called brood parasitism and is unique on our continent to cowbirds. Val Cunningham Special To The Star Tribune, Star Tribune, 6 July 2021 One of the boldest themes is the concept of parasitism, something many insitutions have been accused of in what some see is their haste to receive credits for superficial attempts at being anti-racist. Keyaira Boone, Essence, 25 June 2021 See More
Melina Walling, The Arizona Republic, 11 June 2022 As native lake trout and burbot were decimated in Lake Michigan by overfishing, pollution and sea lamprey parasitism through the early and mid-1900s, alewife numbers soared. Paul A. Smith, Journal Sentinel, 8 June 2022 Although there are few long-term data sets on any parasite species, there are one-off studies that document the abundance of parasitism at a particular place and time. Rachel Nuwer, Scientific American, 28 Apr. 2022 The only way to test this hypothesis would be to compare present parasitism rates with those from the past. Rachel Nuwer, Scientific American, 28 Apr. 2022 Biologists have observed, over long periods of time, that species that are obligate parthenogens frequently die out from disease, parasitism or changes in habitat. Mercedes Burns, CNN, 27 Dec. 2021 That’s because dozens of bird species are thought to engage in some form of brood parasitism, each with their own violent flair. Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 26 Oct. 2021 This practice is called brood parasitism and is unique on our continent to cowbirds. Val Cunningham Special To The Star Tribune, Star Tribune, 6 July 2021 One of the boldest themes is the concept of parasitism, something many insitutions have been accused of in what some see is their haste to receive credits for superficial attempts at being anti-racist. Keyaira Boone, Essence, 25 June 2021 See More Word History
First Known Use
circa 1611, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Medical Definition
parasitism
noun
par·a·sit·ism ˈpar-ə-sə-ˌtiz-əm -ˌsīt-ˌiz-
-ˌsīt-ˌiz- 1
: an intimate association between organisms of two or more kinds
especially : one in which a parasite obtains benefits from a host which it usually injures
2
: parasitosis