animal model

noun

: an animal sufficiently like humans in its anatomy, physiology, or response to a pathogen to be used in medical research in order to obtain results that can be extrapolated to human medicine

also : a pathological or physiological condition that occurs in such an animal and is similar to one occurring in humans

Examples of animal model in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In animal models, the researchers showed that dental floss can effectively release vaccines through the tissue between the teeth and gums, according to a press release. —Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 30 July 2025

While much of this knowledge arises from animal models, core neurobiological mechanisms are believed to be conserved across species, including humans. —William A. Haseltine, Forbes.com, 18 July 2025

Yet Ingber’s own research funding for his work on organs-on-chips, a leading alternative to animal models, was frozen by the Trump administration in April. —Marina Bolotnikova, Vox, 18 June 2025

Brain organoids and the need for ethical inquiry Biomedical research on cell and animal models requires extensive ethics oversight systems that complement those for human research. —Christine Coughlin, The Conversation, 9 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1955, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for animal model

• caudal
• caudle
• dawdle
• twaddle
• waddle
• remodel

Medical Definition

animal model

noun

: an animal sufficiently like humans in its anatomy, physiology, or response to a pathogen to be used in medical research in order to obtain results that can be extrapolated to human medicine

also : a pathological or physiological condition that occurs in such an animal and is similar (as in its pathology or physiology) to a human condition

experimental allergic encephalomyelitis is a useful animal model in the study of multiple sclerosis in humans