gametophyte

noun

ga·me·to·phyte gə-ˈmē-tə-ˌfīt

: the haploid multicellular individual or generation of a plant or alga with alternation of generations that begins with a haploid spore, produces gametes by mitotic division, and ends with fertilization producing a diploid zygote and that constitutes the visibly dominant form in mosses and algae, exists as an independent plant body in ferns and their relatives, and is reduced to a microscopic or rudimentary state in seed plants compare sporophyte

gametophytic

gə-ˌmē-tə-ˈfi-tik

adjective

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web Nowellia curvifolia (leafy liverwort) gametophyte, berberine stained.

Alan Taylor, The Atlantic, 21 Oct. 2014

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'gametophyte.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.