Definition of "parasitism" in Englisch

noun

1. (ecology, biology) Interaction between two organisms, in which one organism (the parasite) benefits and the other (the host) is harmed.

2. (figuratively) A similar interaction between people or things.

   • We accused her of parasitism in taking his hard-earned money for new dresses.
   • These devices' energy consumption is parasitism upon the electrical grid.