prokaryote

/proʊˈkɛrioʊt/

A prokaryote is a single-celled organism that doesn't have a nucleus. Bacteria are one familiar type of prokaryote.

If you take a biology class, you're likely to learn about prokaryotes, tiny organisms without a distinct nucleus bound by a membrane, like most other living things. Prokaryotes are often contrasted with the single-celled or multicellular eukaryotes, which do have a nucleus. The word prokaryote is rooted in Greek — it combines the word pro, "before," with karyon, "nut or kernel."

Definitions of prokaryote

1. noun

   a unicellular organism having cells lacking membrane-bound nuclei; bacteria are the prime example but also included are blue-green algae and actinomycetes and mycoplasma
   synonyms: procaryote

   antonyms:

   eukaryote

   an organism with cells characteristic of all life forms except primitive microorganisms such as bacteria; i.e. an organism with `good' or membrane-bound nuclei in its cells

   type of:

   being, organism

   a living thing that has (or can develop) the ability to act or function independently