monotreme

noun

mono·​treme ˈmä-nə-ˌtrēm How to pronounce monotreme (audio)
: any of an order (Monotremata) of egg-laying mammals comprising the platypuses and echidnas

Examples of monotreme 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.
Also known as spiny anteaters, these iconic monotremes are native to Australia and New Guinea. —Melissa Cristina Marquez, Forbes, 28 Sep. 2024 Their mammary glands are markedly different from those of eutherian mammals such as cows and humans that have nipples; monotremes instead secrete milk through specialized mammary hairs. —Gat Rauner, The Conversation, 13 Aug. 2024 And both echidnas and platypuses are considered monotremes. —Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 29 May 2024 Why did those teeth end up disappearing altogether in modern monotremes? —Elizabeth Rayne, Ars Technica, 7 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for monotreme 

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French monotrème, from mono- mono- + -trème, borrowed from Greek trēmat-, trêma "aperture, hole"; so named because members of the order have a single orifice for both excretory and reproductive functions — more at trematode

Note: The name was introduced by the French naturalist Étienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire (1772-1874) in "Extrait des observations anatomiques de M. Home, sur l'echidné," Bulletin des sciences, par la Société Philomathique, no. 77 (Thermidor, An 11 [July, 1803]), pp. 225-26. The word was subsequently latinized as a plural taxon Monotremata.

First Known Use

1835, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of monotreme was in 1835

Dictionary Entries Near monotreme

monotrematous

monotreme

monotriglyph

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Monotreme.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/monotreme. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.

Copy Citation

Share

Kids Definition

monotreme

noun
mono·​treme ˈmän-ə-ˌtrēm How to pronounce monotreme (audio)
: any of an order of egg-laying mammals that include the platypuses and echidnas

Medical Definition

monotreme

noun
mono·​treme ˈmän-ə-ˌtrēm How to pronounce monotreme (audio)
: any mammal (as a platypus) of the order Monotremata

More from Merriam-Webster on monotreme

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about monotreme

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See All

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Plural and Possessive Names: A Guide

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See All

Popular in Wordplay

See All

8 Words with Fascinating Histories

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments

Birds Say the Darndest Things

10 Words from Taylor Swift Songs (Merriam's Version)

10 Scrabble Words Without Any Vowels
See All

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
little chihuahua dressing like a turkey for thanksgiving
Giving Thanks Quiz Decide which words express gratitude and which gi...