organellid

Organellid is a rarely used term in biology. It is not an established term in modern cell biology and appears primarily in historical texts or informal discussions. The word is sometimes cited to denote small, organelle-like structures within cells, but there is no widely accepted definition, criteria, or scope for what an organellid should be. Etymologically, organellid derives from organellum or organelle with the suffix -id, suggesting resemblance rather than a distinct entity.

In current scientific usage, organellid carries little formal meaning. It is not recognized as a taxonomic group or a standardized category of cellular structures. When encountered, the term tends to be non-specific and descriptive, referring to a generic “small organelle-like body” rather than to a clearly defined structure. Modern biology typically avoids the term in favor of precise names for specific organelles (such as mitochondrion, nucleus, chloroplast, lysosome) or the umbrella term organelle for subcellular components.

The term’s usage reflects historical attempts to categorize diverse intracellular bodies as research advanced, but it has largely fallen out of favor and current literature generally does not adopt it. See also organelle; cell biology; subcellular structure.