developmental
adjective
de·vel·op·men·tal
dē-ˌve-ləp-ˈmen-tᵊl 
1
a
: of, relating to, or being development
developmental processes
developmental biology
b
: serving economic development
developmental highways
2
: designed to assist growth or bring about improvement (as of a skill)
developmental toys
Examples of developmental in a Sentence
A drop in temperature can slow the plant's developmental process.
a child with developmental abnormalities
My theory is still in its developmental stage.
Recent Examples on the Web
The missive cites a slew of studies suggesting that AI software such as ChatGPT may atrophy critical thinking skills and creativity during the crucial developmental years of elementary and high school.
—
Tessa Solomon,
ARTnews.com,
24 June 2026
Research shows that developmental training—focused on empathy, power dynamics and real‑world scenarios—is far more effective than checkbox modules.
—
Susan Madsen,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2026
Second-round picks do not have any salary restrictions, but the players often sign deals for the league minimum or even two-way contracts with different salaries for the time spent in the developmental NBA G League versus the parent NBA team.
—
Kurt Badenhausen,
Sportico.com,
23 June 2026
Other players in the class could follow the developmental track.
—
Austin Meek,
New York Times,
23 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for developmental
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Tessa Solomon,
ARTnews.com,
24 June 2026
Research shows that developmental training—focused on empathy, power dynamics and real‑world scenarios—is far more effective than checkbox modules.
—
Susan Madsen,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2026
Second-round picks do not have any salary restrictions, but the players often sign deals for the league minimum or even two-way contracts with different salaries for the time spent in the developmental NBA G League versus the parent NBA team.
—
Kurt Badenhausen,
Sportico.com,
23 June 2026
Other players in the class could follow the developmental track.
—
Austin Meek,
New York Times,
23 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for developmental
Cite this Entry
“Developmental.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/developmental. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.
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