1. Plural of foraminifer; single-celled marine organisms with shells containing small holes or chambers, commonly found in ocean sediments and used in paleontology and geology.
Usage: scientific; plural form; also called foraminifers

Examples

• Foraminiferans are abundant in deep-sea sediments and provide valuable information about past ocean conditions.
• Paleontologists study foraminiferans to understand climate changes throughout Earth's history.
• The shells of foraminiferans accumulate on the ocean floor and form a significant part of marine sediment.
• Foraminiferans are used as index fossils to date rock layers in the petroleum industry.
• Different species of foraminiferans thrive in different water temperatures and depths.