# phytoplankton

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˌfaɪ.təˈplæŋk.tən/ · frequency rank #45,001

## Definitions
1. Plankton, especially those small in size, that obtain energy by photosynthesis.

## Etymology
From phyto- + plankton.
From Ancient Greek φυτόν (phutón, “plant”) + πλαγκτόν (planktón), neuter of πλαγκτός (planktós, “wandering”). However, they are no longer classified as plants, so the terminology is showing a historical meaning.

## Common misspellings (22)
`hpytoplankton`, `phhytoplankton`, `phtyoplankton`, `phyotplankton`, `phytolpankton`, `phytopalnkton`, `phytoplaknton`, `phytoplankkton`, `phytoplankotn`, `phytoplanktno`, `phytoplanktonn`, `phytoplanktton`, `phytoplannkton`, `phytoplantkon`, `phytopllankton`, `phytoplnakton`, `phytopplankton`, `phytpolankton`, `phyttoplankton`, `phyytoplankton`, `pphytoplankton`, `pyhtoplankton`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/phytoplankton