vertebrate

1 of 2

noun

ver·​te·​brate ˈvər-tə-brət How to pronounce vertebrate (audio) -ˌbrāt How to pronounce vertebrate (audio)
: any of a subphylum (Vertebrata) of chordates that comprises animals (such as mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fishes) typically having a bony or cartilaginous spinal column which replaces the notochord, a distinct head containing a brain which arises as an enlarged part of the nerve cord, and an internal usually bony skeleton and that includes some primitive forms (such as lampreys) in which the spinal column is absent and the notochord persists throughout life

vertebrate

2 of 2

adjective

1
a
: having a spinal column
b
: of or relating to the vertebrates
2
: organized or constructed in orderly or developed form

Examples of vertebrate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
In other words: these vertebrate worms feed their offspring with milk from their butts. Popular Science, 7 Mar. 2024 But understanding the evolution of these scaly vertebrates depends on what paleontologists unearth in the fossil record, and the diversity of the earliest reptilian animals is still a knowledge gap researchers are trying to fill. Ashley Strickland, CNN, 20 Feb. 2024 Parthenogenesis has been observed in more than 80 vertebrate species, including California condors and a crocodile. Catherine Duncan, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 Feb. 2024 Across vertebrate species, these molecules interact with the endocannabinoid system, a network of nerve receptors, molecules and enzymes that keeps the body’s other organ systems stable. Rachel Nuwer, New York Times, 6 Feb. 2024 Zooming in on amphibians: Which is the smallest vertebrate in the world? Grrlscientist, Forbes, 17 Feb. 2024 Greenland sharks are the longest-living vertebrates in the world, according to NOAA. Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 23 Jan. 2024 Mammals aren’t the only vertebrates who give off eyeshine. Katie Liu, Discover Magazine, 26 Oct. 2023 Biologically, the tapetum lucidum is a mirror-like surface located behind a vertebrate’s retina. Katie Liu, Discover Magazine, 26 Oct. 2023
Adjective
Either way, the enduring mystery of how closely humans and sea lamprey fit on the vertebrate family tree will continue. Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 22 Feb. 2024 Just as trees contain rings that can be counted to determine their ages and growth histories, bones contain rings that record a vertebrate animal's age and its rate and duration of growth. Michael D. D'emic, Scientific American, 1 Sep. 2023 The results are bleak: the supercomputer says 10 percent of all plant and animal species will disappear by 2050, and 27 percent of vertebrate diversity will vanish by 2100. Tim Newcomb, Popular Mechanics, 18 Jan. 2023 Other studies have found similar results, suggesting that these animals can create complex relationships to pain like vertebrate animals. Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Ars Technica, 7 Oct. 2023 Thankfully, for our understanding of vertebrate history, the scientists were careful enough to keep the skin sample from becoming dust. Popular Science, 11 Jan. 2024 Do any other vertebrate groups measure up to cats in this way? Kate Wong, Scientific American, 4 Oct. 2023 Goswami is an evolutionary biologist at the Natural History Museum in London who studies large-scale patterns of evolution in vertebrate animals through time. Kate Wong, Scientific American, 4 Oct. 2023 In 2010, the European Union passed a directive to extend protections already in use for vertebrate lab animals to include cephalopods. Emily Mullin, WIRED, 6 Oct. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'vertebrate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

New Latin Vertebrata, from neuter plural of vertebratus

Adjective

New Latin vertebratus, from Latin, jointed, from vertebra

First Known Use

Noun

1826, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1820, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of vertebrate was in 1820

Dictionary Entries Near vertebrate

Cite this Entry

“Vertebrate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vertebrate. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

vertebrate

1 of 2 adjective
ver·​te·​brate ˈvərt-ə-brət How to pronounce vertebrate (audio) -ˌbrāt How to pronounce vertebrate (audio)
1
: having a spinal column
2
: of or relating to the vertebrates

vertebrate

2 of 2 noun
: any of a large group of chordates comprising animals (as mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fishes) typically having a bony or cartilaginous backbone which replaces the notochord, a distinct head containing a brain which arises as an enlarged part of the nerve cord, and an internal usually bony skeleton and including some primitive forms (as lampreys) in which the backbone is absent and the notochord persists throughout life

Medical Definition

vertebrate

1 of 2 adjective
ver·​te·​brate ˈvərt-ə-brət How to pronounce vertebrate (audio) -ˌbrāt How to pronounce vertebrate (audio)
1
: having a spinal column
2
: of or relating to the subphylum Vertebrata

vertebrate

2 of 2 noun
: an animal of the subphylum Vertebrata
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