A parasite is a living thing that lives on or in another living thing and takes food or resources from it, usually harming it. The host is the organism that the parasite lives on.
From Latin 'parasitus', from Greek 'parasitos', meaning 'person who eats at another’s table', from 'para' meaning 'beside' and 'sitos' meaning 'food'. It originally referred to people who lived off others’ generosity.
Before it was a biology term, 'parasite' was an insult for someone who mooched free meals. Science borrowed a social judgment word and pinned it on tapeworms and lice.
The term 'parasite' has been used metaphorically to stigmatize marginalized groups, including women who did unpaid domestic work or were economically dependent due to restricted rights. Such metaphors reinforced gendered economic stereotypes rather than structural inequalities.
Reserve 'parasite' for biological or clearly defined metaphorical uses, and avoid applying it to genders or social groups.
["organism that lives on a host","freeloader (colloquial, use cautiously)"]
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