animalcule
noun
an·i·mal·cule ˌa-nə-ˈmal-(ˌ)kyü(ə)l 
variants or less commonly animalculum
plural animalcules also animalcula ˌa-nə-ˈmal-kyə-lə
: a minute usually microscopic organism
Examples of animalcule in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The last time this tiny wheel animalcule was moving around, wooly mammoths roamed the earth. —
Karen Hopkin, Scientific American, 17 Aug. 2021 Van Leeuwenhoek estimated, correctly, that there were more animalcules swimming and creeping around in his mouth than there were people living in the Netherlands. —Jonathan Weiner, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2016
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Karen Hopkin, Scientific American, 17 Aug. 2021 Van Leeuwenhoek estimated, correctly, that there were more animalcules swimming and creeping around in his mouth than there were people living in the Netherlands. —Jonathan Weiner, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2016
Cite this Entry
“Animalcule.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/dictionary/animalcule. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
animalcule
noun
an·i·mal·cule ˌan-ə-ˈmal-kyül
: a very small organism that is invisible or nearly invisible to the naked eye
animalcular
adjective
-ˈmal-kyə-lər
Medical Definition
animalcule
noun
an·i·mal·cule ˌan-ə-ˈmal-(ˌ)kyü(ə)l
variants also animalculum
plural animalcules also animalcula -kyə-lə
: a minute usually microscopic organism
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