Commensalism vs. Parasitism — What's the Difference?

Commensalism is a long-term biological interaction (symbiosis) in which members of one species gain benefits while those of the other species neither benefit nor are harmed. This is in contrast with mutualism, in which both organisms benefit from each other; amensalism, where one is harmed while the other is unaffected; parasitism, where one is harmed and the other benefits, and parasitoidism, which is similar to parasitism but the parasitoid has a free-living state and instead of just harming its host it eventually ends up killing it.

Parasitism is a symbiotic relationship between species, where one organism, the parasite, lives on or inside another organism, the host, causing it some harm, and is adapted structurally to this way of life. The entomologist E. O. Wilson has characterised parasites as "predators that eat prey in units of less than one".

A symbiotic relationship between two organisms of different species in which one derives some benefit while the other is unaffected.

A relationship between two organisms of different species in which one is a parasite and the other is a host.

(ecology) A sharing of the same environment by two organisms where one species benefits and the other is unaffected. An example is barnacles on whales.

The characteristic behavior or mode of existence of a parasite or parasitic population.

The act of eating together; table fellowship.

Parasitosis.

The act of eating together; table fellowship.

(ecology) Interaction between two organisms, in which one organism (the parasite) benefits and the other (the host) is harmed.

The relation between two different kinds of organisms when one receives benefits from the other without damaging it

(figuratively) A similar interaction between people.

The state or behavior of a parasite; the act of a parasite.

The state of being parasitic.

The relation between two different kinds of organisms in which one receives benefits from the other by causing damage to it (usually not fatal damage)