invertebrate

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adjective in·ver·te·brate \ (ˌ)in-ˈvər-tə-brət , -ˌbrāt \

Definition of invertebrate

1 :lacking a spinal column; also :of, relating to, or concerned with invertebrate animals

2 :lacking in strength or vitality :weak

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invertebrate

noun

See invertebrate defined for kids

Examples of invertebrate in a Sentence

an invertebrate Congress that blithely went along with the President's ill-conceived plan

Recent Examples of invertebrate from the Web

The reef will provide habitat for fish, oysters, invertebrate filter feeders and other marine life.

— baltimoresun.com, "Conservation groups to expand Tilghman Island reef," 20 June 2017
Decades of degradation by hikers, motorcyclists, homeless campers and partying had hammered the fish, forcing heaps of gravel off fragile slopes into the creek, snuffing stoneflies and other invertebrate food.

— bruce finley, The Denver Post, "Colorado’s rarest fish: greenback cutthroats endure electro-zapping, netting and squeezing as biologists try to save state fish from extinction," 13 June 2017
Moser is the acting collections manager for invertebrate zoology.

— jackson landers, Smithsonian, "Why These Humans Are Museum Treasures, Too," 22 May 2017
But there are also large numbers of small invertebrate animals, including insects, which are the foundations of the ecosystem.

— National Geographic, "Saving Half the Planet for Nature Isn't As Crazy As It Seems," 27 Mar. 2016
With their keen vision and deadly-accurate pounce, jumping spiders are the cats of the invertebrate world.

— sciencenow, WIRED, "Spiders Hunt With 3-D Vision," 26 Jan. 2012

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

Origin and Etymology of invertebrate

New Latin invertebratus, from Latin in- + New Latin vertebratus vertebrate

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1819

See Words from the same year

invertebrate Synonyms

Synonyms

characterless, effete, frail, weak, limp-wristed, milk-and-water, namby-pamby, nerveless, soft, spineless, weakened, weak-kneed, weakling, wet [British], wimpish, wimpy, wishy-washy

Antonyms

backboned, firm, hard, strong, tough

Near Antonyms

ethical, good, moral, principled, right, righteous, upright, virtuous; determined, mettlesome, resolute, unrelenting; courageous, stalwart, stouthearted

Other Invertebrates (Except Insects) Terms

anemone, cephalopod, quahog

INVERTEBRATE Defined for Kids

invertebrate

play

adjective in·ver·te·brate \ in-ˈvər-tə-brət \

Definition of invertebrate for Students

:having no backbone

an invertebrate animal

invertebrate

noun

Definition of invertebrate for Students

:an animal (as a worm or a crab) that does not have a backbone

Medical Dictionary

invertebrate

play

noun in·ver·te·brate \ (ˈ)in-ˈvərt-ə-brət , -ˌbrāt \

medical Definition of invertebrate

:an animal having no backbone or internal skeleton

invertebrate

adjective

medical Definition of invertebrate

:lacking a spinal column; also :of or relating to invertebrate animals

Learn More about invertebrate

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for invertebrate Spanish Central: Translation of invertebrate Nglish: Translation of invertebrate for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about invertebrate

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invertebrate

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Examples of invertebrate in a Sentence

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Origin and Etymology of invertebrate

invertebrate Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

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Near Antonyms

Other Invertebrates (Except Insects) Terms

INVERTEBRATE Defined for Kids

invertebrate

Definition of invertebrate for Students

invertebrate

Definition of invertebrate for Students

Medical Dictionary

invertebrate

medical Definition of invertebrate

invertebrate

medical Definition of invertebrate

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