prokaryote UK /pɹəʊˈkæɹi.əʊt/US /pɹoʊˈkæɹi.oʊt/ noun2 •An organism whose cell (or cells) are characterized by the absence of a nucleus or any other membrane-bound organelles. •In the two-empire system of biological taxonomy, an organism of the kingdom Prokaryotae (now superseded). formsprokaryotes