germ cell

noun

: a gamete (such as an egg or sperm cell) or one of its antecedent cells

Examples of germ cell in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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In the labs, visitors are shown how scientists take red blood cells from a developing egg embryo – within the blood will be the primordial germ cells, which develop into egg and sperm in adult birds. Mike Snider, USA Today, 17 Feb. 2026 The process of resurrection After growing the primordial germ cells, the Colossal scientists plan to edit these with dodo-specific genes. Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 18 Sep. 2025 Scientists have previously been able to culture primordial germ cells, or PGCs, of chickens and geese, a technique that has been used to create a chicken fathered by a duck. Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 17 Sep. 2025 More specifically, Miller had a germ cell tumor of her ovary. Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for germ cell

Word History

First Known Use

1868, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of germ cell was in 1868

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Cite this Entry

“Germ cell.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/germ%20cell. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.

Kids Definition

germ cell

noun
: an egg or sperm cell or one of the cells from which they arise

Medical Definition

germ cell

noun
: an egg or sperm cell or one of their antecedent cells

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