noun

• An association between two organisms in which one benefits and the other derives neither benefit nor harm.

  ‘There are numerous other examples of symbiosis, mutualism, commensalism and parasitism between ray-finned fishes and other groups.’

  More example sentences

  • ‘The beater syndrome is a form of commensalism - the unilateral transfer of benefits from one species to another at little or no cost to the benefactor.’
  • ‘This can be interpreted as a clear example of commensalism similar to many shrub-understorey experiments.’
  • ‘This is typical commensalism: birds benefit from the activities of elephants but do not affect the huge mammals in any way.’