flatworm
noun
flat·worm
ˈflat-ˌwərm 
: any of a phylum (Platyhelminthes) of soft-bodied usually much flattened acoelomate worms (such as the planarians, flukes, and tapeworms)
called also platyhelminth
Examples of flatworm in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Planarians are small flatworms that would probably be living quiet lives somewhere if biologists hadn't discovered their ability to regenerate lots of adult tissues when damaged.
—
John Timmer, ArsTechnica, 18 Apr. 2025
The flatworm that found a zombie on/off switch Brian Lund Fredensborg
Other parasites have taken more careful control of their hosts, switching zombie states on and off like a light switch.
—New Atlas, 12 Apr. 2025
Experts said the rosy wolf snail is still present in French Polynesia, but is now rare due to the arrival of another predator — the New Guinea flatworm, Mongabay reported.
—Lauren Liebhaber, Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2025
The infection can come from a few sources: raw or undercooked snails or slugs, vegetables or fruit that have been contaminated by snails, slugs or flatworms or their slime, or by eating infected hosts like land crabs, freshwater prawns or frogs, doctors said.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 21 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for flatworm
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John Timmer, ArsTechnica, 18 Apr. 2025
The flatworm that found a zombie on/off switch Brian Lund Fredensborg
Other parasites have taken more careful control of their hosts, switching zombie states on and off like a light switch.
—New Atlas, 12 Apr. 2025
Experts said the rosy wolf snail is still present in French Polynesia, but is now rare due to the arrival of another predator — the New Guinea flatworm, Mongabay reported.
—Lauren Liebhaber, Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2025
The infection can come from a few sources: raw or undercooked snails or slugs, vegetables or fruit that have been contaminated by snails, slugs or flatworms or their slime, or by eating infected hosts like land crabs, freshwater prawns or frogs, doctors said.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 21 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for flatworm
Cite this Entry
“Flatworm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flatworm. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
flatworm
noun
flat·worm
-ˌwərm
: any of a phylum of simple worms (as planarians, flukes, or tapeworms) that have a soft flat body, lack a body cavity, and have bilateral symmetry
Medical Definition
flatworm
noun
flat·worm
ˈflat-ˌwərm
: any worm of the phylum Platyhelminthes : platyhelminth
especially
: turbellarian
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