parasitization

/ˌpɛrəsɪtɪˈzeɪʃən/
noun
  1. The process or state of being infected or infested by a parasite (an organism that lives on or inside another and feeds on it).
    • Farmers worry about the parasitization of their crops by insects like aphids.
    • The study examined the rate of parasitization in different bird species.
    • The parasitization of the fish by the worm caused visible damage to its gills.
  2. A situation in which one person or group takes advantage of another for their own benefit, like a parasite.
    • The novel explores the parasitization of the poor by the wealthy elite.
    • He criticized the parasitization of the welfare system by a few dishonest individuals.
    • The company's parasitization of local resources angered the community.