embryonic

adjective

em·​bry·​on·​ic ˌem-brē-ˈä-nik How to pronounce embryonic (audio)
1
: of or relating to an embryo
2
: being in an early stage of development : incipient, rudimentary
an embryonic plan
embryonically adverb

Examples of embryonic in a Sentence

The tourism industry there is still in an embryonic stage.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Females do similar things chemically but focus on shutting down genes that promote embryonic growth. ArsTechnica, 23 June 2025 The Justice Department said in a press release that a search of her bags turned up undeclared frog embryos and embryonic samples. Lauren Fichten, CBS News, 12 June 2025 Al Jardine, a Wilson classmate at El Camino College, joined them in an embryonic group, provisionally named the Pendletons after the then-popular shirt. Chris Morris, Variety, 11 June 2025 Previously, such press freedom and appeals to public opinion had burgeoned only during periods of political breakdown, notably in the 1640s, when embryonic ideas of political free speech were occasionally put into print, including by John Milton in his Areopagitica. Fara Dabhoiwala, Harpers Magazine, 4 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for embryonic

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of embryonic was in 1740

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Cite this Entry

“Embryonic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/embryonic. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

embryonic

adjective
em·​bry·​on·​ic ˌem-brē-ˈän-ik How to pronounce embryonic (audio)
1
: of or relating to an embryo
2
: being in an early stage of development
an embryonic plan
embryonically adverb

Medical Definition

embryonic

adjective
em·​bry·​on·​ic ˌem-brē-ˈän-ik How to pronounce embryonic (audio)
1
: of or relating to an embryo
2
: being in an early stage of development : incipient, rudimentary
embryonically adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on embryonic

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