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motile

Adjective
pl: nullpast: nullpp: nulling: nullcomp: more motilesup: most motile

This term is strictly technical, used primarily in biology and microbiology to describe cells or organisms that possess the internal machinery, such as flagella or cilia, to move independently. It is a precise scientific descriptor rather than a general word for movement. Using this word in a casual social setting would sound jarringly clinical. While a person is physically capable of moving, a biologist would not typically describe a human as motile; they would reserve the term for microscopic entities or specific cellular structures to distinguish them from non-motile counterparts.

Meanings

Adjective
[something]

Capable of motion by its own means.

"The motile bacteria moved toward the nutrient source."

Last Updated: May 26, 2026Report an Error