embedded

adjective

em·​bed·​ded im-ˈbe-dəd 

1

: occurring as a grammatical constituent (such as a verb phrase or clause) within a like constituent

2

: enclosed closely in or as if in a matrix : set firmly into a mass or material

Every nuclear sample has a host of distinctive attributes, including the exact mix of impurities, the ratio of different radioactive isotopes, even embedded carbon compounds that indicate the sample's age.

—Discover

3

: attached to a military unit or group for some purpose (such as covering a conflict or providing expert advice)

an embedded journalist

embedded military advisors

4

a

of digital content : drawn from and linked to an external source but displayed or accessed locally

an embedded video

Articles on this site may include embedded content (e.g. videos, images, articles, etc.). Embedded content from other websites behaves in the exact same way as if the visitor has visited the other website.

—sportsnewsireland.com

b

of a device or system : functioning as part of a larger device rather than as an independent unit or system

a smartphone with embedded sensors

… even low-end cars nowadays have 30 to 50 embedded computers—which means that most vehicles are running millions of lines of software code, controlling everything from the brakes to the air conditioning.

—John Naughton

embedding

im-ˈbe-diŋ 

noun

Examples of embedded in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

His defeat of 82-year-old Harrison Ford crystallized the Academy’s wholesale rejection of celebrity currency in favor of embedded, touching work. —Clayton Davis, Variety, 15 Sep. 2025

The device receives a video feed captured by external smart glasses with an embedded camera. —Charlie Fink, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025

Driving all of this transformation is AI — not as a buzzword, Abadie noted, but as an embedded, working reality. —Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 7 Aug. 2025

Strong winds were the main threat overnight with the potential of embedded tornadoes. —Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 15 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1961, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for embedded

• bareheaded
• beheaded
• hardheaded
• homesteaded
• imbedded
• impleaded
• lightheaded
• redheaded
• spearheaded
• unleaded
• bedded
• breaded