multicellular
adjective
mul·ti·cel·lu·lar
ˌməl-tē-ˈsel-yə-lər 
-ˌtī-
: having, made up of, or involving more than one and usually many cells especially of living matter
It is probable that with a few exceptions all the cells in a multicellular organism have the same genetic information encoded in the chains of nucleotide bases that make up their DNA.—
James E. Darnell, Jr.
James E. Darnell, Jr.A biofilm is a community of bacteria that use intercellular signaling to establish complex multicellular structures by coordinating gene expression and phenotypic changes.—J. Christopher Post et al.
J. Christopher Post et al.
multicellularity
noun
When is an organism multicellular? A generic answer … is that multicellularity results when two or more neighboring cells adhere, interact, and physiologically communicate.
—Karl J. Niklas
Karl J. Niklas
Did you know?
Multicellular organisms are distinguished from the very primitive single-celled organisms—bacteria, algae, amoebas, etc. Even sponges, simple as they are, have specialized cell types such as digestive cells. In complex multicellular organisms, only the surface cells can exchange substances with the external environment, so the organisms have developed transport systems such as the circulatory system, in which the blood brings gases and nutrients to the cells and removes waste products from them.
Examples of multicellular in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In experiments, astrocytes with the APOE4 variant triggered Alzheimer’s-like immune reactions only when integrated into the multicellular miBrain environment.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2025
But in multicellular, multi-tissue organisms, gene regulation is a more complex process.
—Quanta Magazine, 8 Oct. 2025
Aerobic respiration can then supply the intense energy demands of multicellular and eventually intelligent life, says Duffy.
—Bruce Dorminey, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Known as the Sponge Capital of the World, the area’s major commodity is the super-absorbent multicellular organism that’s found on the ocean floor.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for multicellular
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.
Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2025
But in multicellular, multi-tissue organisms, gene regulation is a more complex process.
—Quanta Magazine, 8 Oct. 2025
Aerobic respiration can then supply the intense energy demands of multicellular and eventually intelligent life, says Duffy.
—Bruce Dorminey, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Known as the Sponge Capital of the World, the area’s major commodity is the super-absorbent multicellular organism that’s found on the ocean floor.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for multicellular
Cite this Entry
“Multicellular.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/multicellular. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share