organile

Organile is a term that has appeared in some texts as a variant or misspelling of organelle, the specialized subcellular structures that carry out distinct functions within cells. It is not widely recognized as a distinct term in standard biology nomenclature, and most dictionaries and glossaries list organelle as the correct form. When encountered, organile is typically treated as a nonstandard synonym or a typographical error.

Etymology and usage: organile would be derived from organelle, with the diminutive suffix -ile. However, the established term organelle originates from Latin organum, meaning “tool,” and the diminutive suffix -ella or -elle.

Function and scope: Organelles are defined by membrane-bound or complex subcellular components that compartmentalize cellular processes. Classic examples include the nucleus, mitochondria, chloroplasts (in plants and algae), endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, lysosomes, peroxisomes, and ribosomes (which are not membrane-bound). In prokaryotic cells, similar functional units exist but are not enclosed by a membrane (e.g., ribosomes, inclusion bodies).

Limitations: Organelles are characteristic of eukaryotic cells; many bacteria and archaea lack most membrane-bound organelles. In modern biology, the term organelle is preferred for clarity, and "organile" should not be used in formal writing without explicit definition.

See also: Organelle; Cell biology; Eukaryotic cells.