plural fungi
ˈfən-ˌjī 
ˈfəŋ-ˌgī
also funguses
ˈfəŋ-gə-səz
ˈfəŋ-ˌgī
also funguses
ˈfəŋ-gə-səz
often attributive
: any of a kingdom (Fungi) of saprophytic and parasitic spore-producing eukaryotic typically filamentous organisms formerly classified as plants that lack chlorophyll and include molds, rusts, mildews, smuts, mushrooms, and yeasts
Examples of fungus in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
There are a variety of organisms that can cause pneumonia, including viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites.
—
Katia Hetter, CNN, 19 Feb. 2025
According to medical research, such infections tend to be caused by a combination of viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites.
—Juliana Kim, NPR, 17 Feb. 2025
However, researchers from UH discovered a fungus from Hawai‘i’s nearshore environment that may have the ability to break down plastics, and to top it off, they may be conditioned to do it faster.
—Monica Cull, Discover Magazine, 14 Feb. 2025
And in the Netherlands, prolific use of antifungals on the country’s signature tulips has fostered the emergence of deadly drug-resistant fungi.
—Maryn McKenna, Scientific American, 13 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fungus
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Katia Hetter, CNN, 19 Feb. 2025
According to medical research, such infections tend to be caused by a combination of viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites.
—Juliana Kim, NPR, 17 Feb. 2025
However, researchers from UH discovered a fungus from Hawai‘i’s nearshore environment that may have the ability to break down plastics, and to top it off, they may be conditioned to do it faster.
—Monica Cull, Discover Magazine, 14 Feb. 2025
And in the Netherlands, prolific use of antifungals on the country’s signature tulips has fostered the emergence of deadly drug-resistant fungi.
—Maryn McKenna, Scientific American, 13 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fungus
Cite this Entry
“Fungus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fungus. Accessed 2 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
fungus
noun
fun·gus
ˈfəŋ-gəs
1
: any of a kingdom of living things (as molds, rusts, mildews, smuts, and mushrooms) that lack chlorophyll, are parasitic or live on dead or decaying organic matter, and were formerly considered plants
2
: infection with a fungus
fungus
adjective
Medical Definition
fungus
noun
fun·gus
ˈfəŋ-gəs
plural fungi
ˈfən-ˌjī also ˈfəŋ-ˌgī
also funguses
ˈfəŋ-gə-səz
often attributive
1
: any of the kingdom Fungi of saprophytic and parasitic spore-producing eukaryotic typically filamentous organisms formerly classified as plants that lack chlorophyll and include molds, rusts, mildews, smuts, mushrooms, and yeasts
2
: infection with a fungus
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