A parasitic microorganism (protozoan) that lives in the blood or blood cells of vertebrate animals.
From Greek 'haima' (blood) + 'spora' (seed or spore). The term describes organisms that reproduce via spores within blood, combining 'haema-' (blood) with the productive '-sporid' suffix used in parasitology.
Haemosporids include the malaria parasite, which infects more than 600 million people annually—making this humble little word represent one of humanity's greatest health challenges throughout history.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.