1. relating to or denoting an organism that obtains its energy and nutrients by consuming organic matter from other organisms rather than producing its own food through photosynthesis or chemosynthesis
Usage: biology term; commonly used in ecology and microbiology

Examples

• Humans are heterotrophic organisms because we must eat plants and animals to survive.
• Bacteria can be either autotrophic or heterotrophic depending on their energy source.
• Most animals, including dogs and insects, are heterotrophic consumers.
• Heterotrophic fungi break down dead organic matter in forest ecosystems.
• Unlike plants, heterotrophic organisms cannot manufacture their own food from sunlight.
• The heterotrophic lifestyle requires organisms to seek out and consume other living things or their remains.