noun
- organisms whose cells contain a nucleus and other membrane-bound organelles; includes animals, plants, fungi, and protists
Usage: plural form; singular is eukaryote; biology/science term; contrasts with prokaryotes
Examples
- Eukaryotes are more complex than prokaryotes because their cells have a nucleus.
- Animals, plants, and fungi are all eukaryotes.
- Most eukaryotes are multicellular, though some are single-celled.
- The evolution of eukaryotes marked a major milestone in the history of life on Earth.
- In biology class, we learned that eukaryotes have organelles like mitochondria and chloroplasts.
- Humans are eukaryotes with trillions of cells in our bodies.