implant

verb im·plant \ im-ˈplant \

|Updated on: 14 Aug 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: implant in a Sentence

Definition of implant

implanted; implanting; implants

transitive verb

1 a : to fix or set securely or deeply

a ruby implanted in the idol's forehead

b : to set permanently in the consciousness or habit patterns : inculcate

2 : to insert in living tissue (as for growth, slow release, or formation of an organic union)

subcutaneously implanted hormone pellets

intransitive verb

: to undergo implantation

the failure of embryos to implant

—

implantable

play \im-ˈplan-tə-bəl\ adjective

—

implanter

play \im-ˈplan-tər\ noun

See implant defined for English-language learners

See implant defined for kids

Examples of implant in a Sentence

a hearing aid that is surgically implanted in the ear
a music teacher who strove to implant within his students a love of the classics

Recent Examples of implant from the Web

Then came 30 days of radiation therapy followed by another surgery to implant two metal plates, 36 screws and part of another hip.

— danielle lerner, The Courier-Journal, "Louisville golfer and caddie team up for Kentucky's PGA tournament," 12 July 2018
How long until criminals are getting functional guns implanted in their forearms?

— katie walsh, Detroit Free Press, "Review: ‘Upgrade’ raises timely fears about technology," 31 May 2018
Cannon got a Circadia Sensor implanted into his arm in 2013.

— laura yan, Popular Mechanics, "A Biohacker Created Surgically Implanted Sensors to Track Cows," 19 May 2018
John Schmieding, senior vice president and general counsel for Arthrex, declined to tell Kaiser Health News exactly how much his company charges hospitals for the type of screws implanted in Young’s foot.

— liz szabo, Washington Post, "Sticker Shock Jolts Oklahoma Patient: $15,076 For Four Tiny Screws," 14 May 2018
For instance, one of the major characters was a magenta dude named Vision who had an LED light bulb implanted in his forehead.

— michael harriot, The Root, "The Black Person’s Guide to Avengers: Infinity War," 27 Apr. 2018
For instance, while several groups of scientists have found that glucose oxidase can produce electricity in biofuel cells implanted in lab rats, the enzyme also generates hydrogen peroxide, a common bleach.

— charles q. choi, The Atlantic, "Your Heartbeat Could Power a Smartphone," 12 Apr. 2018
Join it to a donor egg to create an embryo and implant it into a surrogate.

— chris morris, Fortune, "The Future Is Here. Here's What It Will Cost to Clone Your Pet," 28 Feb. 2018
Chaparro is Anderson’s cardiologist, who tracks her heart via a dime-sized CardioMEM device implanted in Anderson’s pulmonary artery.

— samantha gross, miamiherald, "Checking your heart rate through the Apple Watch and other devices | Miami Herald," 25 Feb. 2018

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

First Known Use of implant

15th century

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

See Words from the same year

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implant Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of implant

implant, inculcate, instill, inseminate, infix mean to introduce into the mind. implant implies teaching that makes for permanence of what is taught.

- implanted a love of reading in her students

inculcate implies persistent or repeated efforts to impress on the mind.

- tried to inculcate in him high moral standards

instill stresses gradual, gentle imparting of knowledge over a long period of time.

- instill traditional values in your children

inseminate applies to a sowing of ideas in many minds so that they spread through a class or nation.

- inseminated an unquestioning faith in technology

infix stresses firmly inculcating a habit of thought.

- infixed a chronic cynicism

implant

noun im·plant \ ˈim-ˌplant \

Definition of implant

: something (such as a graft or device) implanted in tissue — compare cochlear implant

See implant defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of implant from the Web

Products range from a $350 restraint meant to discourage back sleeping to a $24,000 surgical implant that pushes the tongue forward with each breath.

— Washington Post, "New ways to conquer sleep apnea compete for place in bedroom," 12 July 2018
The 2011 Lancet paper, about the first artificial trachea implant, claimed the recipient had no complications 5 months after the surgery.

— gretchen vogel, Science | AAAS, "Macchiarini guilty of misconduct, but whistleblowers share blame, new Karolinska Institute verdict finds," 26 June 2018
The series is set in a world much like our own, with the addition of a single transformative technology: a threadlike experimental brain implant that produces virtual worlds called Reveries.

— adi robertson, The Verge, "NBC’s new VR thriller Reverie is a schmaltzy take on techno-dystopia," 30 May 2018
Time The Food and Drug Administration moved Monday to put sales restrictions on a Bayer birth control implant that has been a target of consumer criticism.

— laura petrecca, USA TODAY, "FDA restricts sales of a Bayer's Essure birth control device," 9 Apr. 2018
But investors were hard to find for the implant: outside of the biohacking community, people remain skeptical of having sensor tracking devices implanted inside their bodies.

— laura yan, Popular Mechanics, "A Biohacker Created Surgically Implanted Sensors to Track Cows," 19 May 2018
Some people might find that an arm implant is the better long-acting reversible contraception option for their needs.

— refinery29.com, "Rushing To Get An IUD? Don't Forget This Important Factor," 11 July 2018
In short order, a man whose face is conveniently obscured by shafts of evil light puts an implant in the back of her head.

— jason kehe, WIRED, "Sci-Fi Invades Netflix—as They Both Invade Your Home," 9 July 2018
Nothing against women with breast implants, but the joke (?) seemed a bit off-key.

— théoden janes, charlotteobserver, "Review: Luke Bryan’s concert was definitely hot. Was it casually political? Maybe...," 30 June 2018

First Known Use of implant

1890

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

IMPLANT Defined for English Language Learners

implant

verb

Definition of implant for English Language Learners

: to put (something) in a specified place; especially medical : to place (something) in a person's body by means of surgery
: to cause (something) to become a part of the way a person thinks or feels

implant

noun

Definition of implant for English Language Learners

medical : something placed in a person's body by means of surgery

IMPLANT Defined for Kids

implant

verb im·plant \ im-ˈplant \

Definition of implant for Students

implanted; implanting

: to set securely or deeply Doctors implanted the hearing device.

Medical Dictionary

implant

transitive verb im·plant \ im-ˈplant \

medical Definition of implant

1 : to set permanently in the consciousness or habit patterns

2 a : to insert or fix in a living site (as for growth, slow release, or formation of an organic union)

subcutaneously implanted hormone pellets

b : to insert an implant in

100 patients have been implanted with nylon ribbons without complications
—U. K. Henschke

intransitive verb

: to undergo implantation : become implanted

failure of embryos to implant

implant

noun im·plant \ ˈim-ˌplant \

medical Definition of implant

: something (as a graft, a small container of radioactive material for treatment of cancer, or a pellet containing hormones to be gradually absorbed) that is implanted especially in tissue