What does multicelled mean?
Multicelled means consisting of more than one cell. The word is most often used for living organisms, especially animals and plants, and for biological tissues or structures whose organization depends on multiple cells working together. It is closely related to the more familiar adjective multicellular, which is especially common in American English and formal scientific writing, whereas multicelled is particularly associated with British usage. In everyday speech, the term is less common than words such as organism or living thing, but it is useful in biology and related subjects because it directly identifies a fundamental structural distinction: multicellular life consists of many cells, while unicellular life consists of one. The word is normally used attributively, as in multicelled organism or multicelled structure, and is less often used predicatively on its own.
adjectiveConsisting of or containing more than one cell. It is chiefly used in biology to describe organisms, tissues, and structures made up of multiple cells.
- Having or consisting of more than one cell.
"The laboratory studied how multicelled organisms repair damaged tissue."
"Most visible animals and plants are multicelled organisms."
"The microscope revealed a multicelled structure inside the sample."
From a single cell to a complex body: multicelled life made biology the study of cooperation between cells.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does multicelled come from?
Multicelled was formed in the 19th century from the combining form multi-, meaning “many,” and the adjective celled, meaning “having cells.” The prefix multi- comes from Latin multus, “many,” while cell ultimately derives from Latin cellula, a small room or storage compartment, the source of the biological meaning of cell. The related forms multicellular and multicellularity developed from the same Latin roots.
Related word forms
How multicelled is actually used
The adjective is primarily used in scientific and biological contexts. In British English, multicelled is common; multicellular is the dominant form in American English and in formal scientific writing.
Easily confused with multicelled
Multicellular and multicelled have essentially the same meaning, but multicellular is the more common formal and scientific form, while multicelled is especially associated with British usage.