vertebrate

1 of 2

noun

ver·​te·​brate ˈvər-tə-brət  -ˌbrāt 

: 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

The tissue in which the teeth were embedded, called the dental lamina, was similarly only recorded inside a vertebrate's jaw before the study, per CBC. —Staff Author, PEOPLE, 10 Sep. 2025

The playful creatures are prey to foxes, jaguars, and even at times humans, but tend to eat insects, plants, roots and smaller vertebrates, the zoo said. —Paloma Chavez, Sacbee.com, 9 Sep. 2025

Adjective

Sharks, rays, and chimaeras are among the most threatened vertebrate groups on the planet, second only to amphibians; according to the IUCN Red List, 37% of these species are at risk of extinction (and one species is already extinct). —Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025

However, that research focused 5,400 species of vertebrate animal and excluded fish, insects and plant life, taking into account only on a small fraction of life on this planet, Wiens said. —Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2025

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

Rhymes for vertebrate

• abdicate
• abrogate
• acetate
• activate
• actuate
• adsorbate
• aggravate
• agitate
• alginate
• alienate
• allocate
• amputate

Kids Definition

vertebrate

1 of 2 adjective

ver·​te·​brate ˈvərt-ə-brət  -ˌbrāt 

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 noun

ver·​te·​brate ˈvərt-ə-brət  -ˌbrāt 

: a subphylum of chordates comprising animals (such as mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fishes) with a segmented spinal column together with a few primitive forms in which the backbone is represented by a notochord : an animal of the subphylum Vertebrata

vertebrate

2 of 2 adjective

1

: having a spinal column

2

: of or relating to the subphylum Vertebrata