embryonic

adjective

em·​bry·​on·​ic ˌem-brē-ˈä-nik 

1

: of or relating to an embryo

2

: being in an early stage of development : incipient, rudimentary

an embryonic plan

embryonically

ˌem-brē-ˈä-ni-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Examples of embryonic in a Sentence

The tourism industry there is still in an embryonic stage.

Recent Examples on the Web

For what's essentially the embryonic form of a massive star, L1544 is a remarkably tranquil place. —Kiona N. Smith, Space.com, 16 Feb. 2026

The details layer like a Georges Seurat painting, especially compared to earlier, more embryonic versions of these songs. —David Glickman, Pitchfork, 13 Feb. 2026

The same embryonic differences that determine how sperm move also dictate how small hairs called cilia wave to clear airways. —Elizabeth Cooney, STAT, 2 Feb. 2026

Just the same, Self also knows this team, with only one man back (Flory Bidunga) from last season’s nine-deep rotation, is still just emerging from an embryonic phase of development. —Kansas City Star, 31 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin embryonicus, from embryon-, embryo embryo + Latin -icus -ic entry 1

First Known Use

1740, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing embryonic

• embryonic disc
• embryonic membrane

Rhymes for embryonic

• anharmonic
• anionic
• avionic
• catatonic
• cationic
• chorionic
• cosmogonic
• diachronic
• diatonic
• electronic
• excitonic
• fermionic

Kids Definition

embryonic

adjective

em·​bry·​on·​ic ˌem-brē-ˈän-ik 

1

: of or relating to an embryo

2

: being in an early stage of development

an embryonic plan

embryonically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Medical Definition

embryonic

adjective

em·​bry·​on·​ic ˌem-brē-ˈän-ik 

1

: of or relating to an embryo

2

: being in an early stage of development : incipient, rudimentary

embryonically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb