zygote

play

noun zy·gote \ ˈzī-ˌgōt \

Definition of zygote

:a cell formed by the union of two gametes; broadly :the developing individual produced from such a cell

—

zygotic

play \zī-ˈgä-tik\ adjective

See zygote defined for English-language learners

See zygote defined for kids

Recent Examples of zygote from the Web

At the time of its birth, the zoo explained that the turtles suffered from a condition called polycephaly, a condition that results when zygotes don't properly separate during development.

— sarah gibbens, National Geographic, "Two-Headed Baby Turtle Swims to Sea—Will It Survive?," 21 Aug. 2017
Ectopic pregnancies are often called tubal pregnancies, but can happen anywhere, really, that a wayward zygote with a self-destructive streak lands.

— joanna petrone, Longreads, "Pregnant, then Ruptured," 18 Aug. 2017
The result was one-cell embryos, known as zygotes, with a defective gene responsible for the heart condition from the man along with a healthy copy of the gene from the woman.

— lynne terry, OregonLive.com, "OHSU genetic research that could eliminate diseases faces clinical obstacles," 2 Aug. 2017
Take, for example,the Sanctity of Human Life Act, which would give full legal rights to human zygotes from the moment of fertilization.

— bromleigh mccleneghan, Redbook, "5 Christian Women Open Up About Their Decisions to Have Abortions," 6 Apr. 2017

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