Saprophytism is a biological term that refers to the condition of a plant or organism in which it obtains its nutrition from dead and decaying organic matter. Synonyms for this word include necrotrophism, saprobiosis, and saprotrophism. Necrotrophism is the process in which an organism obtains nutrients from dead or dying plant or animal tissue, while saprobiosis is the process of feeding on organic matter. Saprotrophism is the method of obtaining nutrients through the absorption of decaying organic matter. These synonyms can be used interchangeably to describe the feeding habits of various organisms and their reliance on dead organic matter for sustenance.