primordium

noun

pri·​mor·​di·​um prī-ˈmȯr-dē-əm How to pronounce primordium (audio)
plural primordia prī-ˈmȯr-dē-ə How to pronounce primordium (audio)
: the rudiment or commencement of a part or organ

Examples of primordium in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The worm has organs called gonad primordia on the underside of its posterior end. Elizabeth Rayne, Ars Technica, 8 Dec. 2023 Strange figures can emerge from the archival primordium—figures such as Loab. Stephen Marche, The Atlantic, 27 Sep. 2022 Sun spells out a half-century of empirical research, along with the roles of complex genetic signals, hormones, chromosomes and a small group of cells called the bipotential primordium. Heidi Stevens, chicagotribune.com, 26 Feb. 2021

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from German Primordium, borrowed from Latin prīmōrdium (in plural prīmōrdia) "beginnings, origin, source, elementary stage" — more at primordial

First Known Use

1855, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of primordium was in 1855

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Primordium.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/primordium. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

Medical Definition

primordium

noun
pri·​mor·​di·​um -ē-əm How to pronounce primordium (audio)
plural primordia -ē-ə How to pronounce primordium (audio)
: the rudiment or commencement of a part or organ : anlage
the gonadal primordium
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