Origin

from Greek zōē life + -ic

-zoic

adjective combining form

ETYMOLOGY Greek zōikos of animals, from zōion animal — more at zo-

: having a (specified) animal mode of existence
holozoic

adjective combining form

ETYMOLOGY Greek zōē life

: of, relating to, or being a (specified) geological era
Proterozoic
Mesozoic

-zoic /ˈzəʊɪk/ suffix.

ORIGIN: from Greek zōē life + -ic; in sense 3 from Modern Latin taxonomic names in -zoa.

1.Geology. Forming nouns and adjectives denoting or designating (organisms etc. of) a geological era characterized by a specific form of life, as Palaeozoic, Mesozoic, Cenozoic, etc.

2.Ecology. Forming adjectives designating animals having a specific mode of life or metabolism, as cryptozoic, epizoic, holozoic, phanerozoic, etc.

3.Zoology. Forming adjectives designating or pertaining to (animals belonging to) specific higher taxa, as hydrozoic, metazoic, polyzoic, etc. Now rare.

-zo·ic
I. \|zōik, -ōēk\ adjective combining form
Etymology: Greek zōikos of or pertaining to animals, from zōi- zo- + -ikos -ic
: animal : having a (specified) animal mode of existence : animallike
< holozoic >
< phanerozoic >
< coprozoic >
< cytozoic >
II. adjective combining form
Etymology: Greek zōē life + English -ic — more at quick
: of or relating to a (specified) geological era
< Archeozoic >
< Mesozoic >

-zoic

Suffix

Relating to some specified form of animal existence
Relating to some specified geologic period

Usage notes

Some words (e.g. benzoic) are derived from -oic

Derived terms

English words suffixed with -zoic