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
Russel Honoré, Newsweek, 6 Mar. 2025
Continued study of the area aims to broaden our scientific understanding of the dinosaurs and other vertebrates that lived in Patagonia during the last 15 million years of the Cretaceous.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 5 Mar. 2025
Devon Akmon, The Conversation, 20 Mar. 2025
Generally speaking, it has been observed that only the most dominant chimpanzees consume significant amounts of vertebrate meat.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 9 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for vertebrate
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Noun
The team found that, in mice, the early development of the head and the peripheral nerves (those outside of the brain and spinal column) follows common patterns seen in other jawed vertebrates.
—Russel Honoré, Newsweek, 6 Mar. 2025
Continued study of the area aims to broaden our scientific understanding of the dinosaurs and other vertebrates that lived in Patagonia during the last 15 million years of the Cretaceous.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 5 Mar. 2025
Adjective
Recent funding has supported the digitization of over 2,000 vertebrate specimens, including rare and endangered species.
—Devon Akmon, The Conversation, 20 Mar. 2025
Generally speaking, it has been observed that only the most dominant chimpanzees consume significant amounts of vertebrate meat.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 9 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for vertebrate
Cite this Entry
“Vertebrate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vertebrate. Accessed 28 Mar. 2025.
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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