ver·te·brate
ˈvər-tə-brət 
-ˌbrāt
-ˌbrāt
: any of a subphylum (Vertebrata) of chordates that comprises animals (such as mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fishes) typically having a bony or cartilaginous spinal column which replaces the notochord, a distinct head containing a brain which arises as an enlarged part of the nerve cord, and an internal usually bony skeleton and that includes some primitive forms (such as lampreys) in which the spinal column is absent and the notochord persists throughout life
1
a
: having a spinal column
b
: of or relating to the vertebrates
2
: organized or constructed in orderly or developed form
Examples of vertebrate in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Allison Futterman, Discover Magazine, 6 Nov. 2024
The smallest vertebrates so far discovered are the flea-toads, which live at the limit for how small any vertebrate can possibly get.
—Grrlscientist, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024
Peter Singer, TIME, 26 Oct. 2024
Of the five main classes of vertebrate animals, reptiles often inspire the most fear.
—Katie Hunt, CNN, 21 Sep. 2024
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Noun
Salamanders are the only adult vertebrates that can regrow limbs, and axolotls are no exception.
—Allison Futterman, Discover Magazine, 6 Nov. 2024
The smallest vertebrates so far discovered are the flea-toads, which live at the limit for how small any vertebrate can possibly get.
—Grrlscientist, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024
Adjective
That’s because the U.S. Animal Welfare Act, which gives the Department of Agriculture authority to regulate research on animals, specifically denies the Department authority to regulate research on rats, mice, and birds, who make up over 99% of all vertebrate animals used in U.S. experiments.
—Peter Singer, TIME, 26 Oct. 2024
Of the five main classes of vertebrate animals, reptiles often inspire the most fear.
—Katie Hunt, CNN, 21 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for vertebrate
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Cite this Entry
“Vertebrate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vertebrate. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
vertebrate
1 of 2 adjective
ver·te·brate
ˈvərt-ə-brət
-ˌbrāt
-ˌbrāt
1
: having a spinal column
2
: of or relating to the vertebrates
vertebrate
2 of 2 noun
: any of a large group of chordates comprising animals (as mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fishes) typically having a bony or cartilaginous backbone which replaces the notochord, a distinct head containing a brain which arises as an enlarged part of the nerve cord, and an internal usually bony skeleton and including some primitive forms (as lampreys) in which the backbone is absent and the notochord persists throughout life
Medical Definition
vertebrate
1 of 2 noun
ver·te·brate
ˈvərt-ə-brət
-ˌbrāt
-ˌbrāt
: a subphylum of chordates comprising animals (such as mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fishes) with a segmented spinal column together with a few primitive forms in which the backbone is represented by a notochord : an animal of the subphylum Vertebrata
vertebrate
2 of 2 adjective1
: having a spinal column
2
: of or relating to the subphylum Vertebrata
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