Meaning & use

prokaryotic

adjective·Advanced

Relating to a cell or organism, such as bacteria, that lacks a nucleus and other membrane-bound organelles.

See it in a sentence

Bacteria are prokaryotic organisms, unlike the eukaryotic cells found in animals and plants.

A prokaryotic cell's DNA floats freely in the cytoplasm rather than sitting inside a nucleus.

A note on using this word

Prokaryotic cells are generally simpler and smaller than eukaryotic cells, and evolved much earlier.

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