1. relating to or characterized by a symbiotic relationship in which one organism benefits while the other is unaffected
Usage: biology
2. eating together at the same table
Usage: formal

1. an organism that lives in a commensal relationship with another organism
Usage: biology

Examples

• Barnacles have a commensal relationship with whales, benefiting from transportation without harming their host.
• The remora fish is a classic example of a commensal organism that attaches to sharks.
• Many bacteria maintain commensal relationships with humans, living harmlessly in our digestive system.
• The study examined commensal species that inhabit coral reefs.
• In medieval times, commensal dining was an important social ritual among nobility.
• The commensal arrangement allowed the smaller fish to feed on scraps without competition.