# medusa

/məˈdusə/ (US) · /mədjˈuːsɐ/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/medusa
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Definition

a type of jellyfish that has a body shaped like a bell or an umbrella. It usually has long tentacles that hang down and can sting.

For teachers: the free-swimming, sexually reproducing life stage of a cnidarian, typically characterized by a gelatinous bell-shaped body and trailing tentacles. Often contrasted with the sessile polyp stage.

## Examples

- The medusa floated gracefully through the clear blue water.
- During the summer months, the bay is filled with the medusa stage of several local jellyfish species.
- In many hydrozoan life cycles, the medusa is the mobile phase responsible for the dispersal of gametes across vast oceanic distances.

## Usage notes

- When capitalized, refers to the figure from Greek mythology with snakes for hair; in zoology, it is a common noun for the jellyfish form.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.