: a cell formed by the union of two gametes
broadly
: the developing individual produced from such a cell
Examples of zygote in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Cell mitosis takes place over three to five days, as your zygote makes its way through your fallopian tube.
—
wendy Wisner, Parents, 18 Nov. 2023
Scientists say that a single zooid (formed from a single fertilized zygote) starts the development of a siphonophore colony through the process of budding.
—Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 28 Aug. 2023
The zygote then divides, eventually forming an organism with mostly the same genetic material throughout its body.
—Margaret Osborne, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Apr. 2023
That means both embryos come from the same fertilized egg, or zygote.
—Avery Hurt, Discover Magazine, 3 Mar. 2021
Each zygote's growth is optimized and their every need tended to by the pod; parents can even choose to feed them or soothe them remotely from an app, like Tamagotchis.
—Leah Greenblatt, EW.com, 20 Jan. 2023
Typically during reproduction, two gametes — cells with half the number of original chromosomes — come together to create a zygote, with a full suite of genes.
—Oliver Whang, New York Times, 12 Sep. 2022
Then the zygote splits, creating two highly similar individuals with the same set of genetic instructions called the genome.
—Avery Hurt, Discover Magazine, 3 Mar. 2021
What actually happens when that sperm and ovum get together to make a zygote?
—Sean Carroll, Discover Magazine, 13 Feb. 2012
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wendy Wisner, Parents, 18 Nov. 2023
Scientists say that a single zooid (formed from a single fertilized zygote) starts the development of a siphonophore colony through the process of budding.
—Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 28 Aug. 2023
The zygote then divides, eventually forming an organism with mostly the same genetic material throughout its body.
—Margaret Osborne, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Apr. 2023
That means both embryos come from the same fertilized egg, or zygote.
—Avery Hurt, Discover Magazine, 3 Mar. 2021
Each zygote's growth is optimized and their every need tended to by the pod; parents can even choose to feed them or soothe them remotely from an app, like Tamagotchis.
—Leah Greenblatt, EW.com, 20 Jan. 2023
Typically during reproduction, two gametes — cells with half the number of original chromosomes — come together to create a zygote, with a full suite of genes.
—Oliver Whang, New York Times, 12 Sep. 2022
Then the zygote splits, creating two highly similar individuals with the same set of genetic instructions called the genome.
—Avery Hurt, Discover Magazine, 3 Mar. 2021
What actually happens when that sperm and ovum get together to make a zygote?
—Sean Carroll, Discover Magazine, 13 Feb. 2012
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'zygote.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Zygote.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/zygote. Accessed 5 Dec. 2023.
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Kids Definition
zygote
noun
zy·gote
ˈzī-ˌgōt 
: a cell formed by the union of two sex cells
also
: the developing individual produced from such a cell
Medical Definition
zygote
noun
zy·gote
ˈzī-ˌgōt
: a cell formed by the union of two gametes
broadly
: the developing individual produced from such a cell
More from Merriam-Webster on zygote
Nglish: Translation of zygote for Spanish Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about zygote
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