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
Kelli Bender, Peoplemag, 8 Mar. 2024
The results of the study challenge the idea that the speed of skeletal movement in vertebrates is limited by muscle movement, the museum said.
—Jennifer Rodriguez, Miami Herald, 3 Mar. 2024
Previous studies have linked over 100 genes to the development of tails in vertebrates, so the general belief has been that tail loss occurred through changes in DNA’s code–or mutations–on more than one gene.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 29 Feb. 2024
Known as placoderms, these primitive jawed vertebrates came in all shapes and sizes, from small bottom-dwellers to giant filter-feeders.
—Jack Tamisiea, New York Times, 30 Jan. 2024
And her Museum of Vertebrate Zoology -or zoology as the experts say- is one of the top 10 vertebrate collections in the world, used by scientists for research worldwide.
—Katie Hafner, Scientific American, 4 Jan. 2024
By the turn of the century, asexual reproduction had been documented in nearly every branch of vertebrates, with the exception of mammals (which most biologists had written off, for reasons explained below) and cartilaginous fish.
—Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 22 Mar. 2024
For example, vertebrates’ walking tempos are set by circuits in their spines that fire without any conscious input from the brain.
—Quanta Magazine, 11 Mar. 2024
In other words: these vertebrate worms feed their offspring with milk from their butts.
—Popular Science, 7 Mar. 2024
Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 20 Mar. 2024
Well besides us and a few other mammals, like dolphins and bats, amongst the other vertebrate lineages, only birds have species that evolved vocal learning.
—Nicholas Stfleur, STAT, 15 Mar. 2024
Either way, the enduring mystery of how closely humans and sea lamprey fit on the vertebrate family tree will continue.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 22 Feb. 2024
Just as trees contain rings that can be counted to determine their ages and growth histories, bones contain rings that record a vertebrate animal's age and its rate and duration of growth.
—Michael D. D'emic, Scientific American, 1 Sep. 2023
The results are bleak: the supercomputer says 10 percent of all plant and animal species will disappear by 2050, and 27 percent of vertebrate diversity will vanish by 2100.
—Tim Newcomb, Popular Mechanics, 18 Jan. 2023
Other studies have found similar results, suggesting that these animals can create complex relationships to pain like vertebrate animals.
—Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Ars Technica, 7 Oct. 2023
Thankfully, for our understanding of vertebrate history, the scientists were careful enough to keep the skin sample from becoming dust.
—Popular Science, 11 Jan. 2024
Do any other vertebrate groups measure up to cats in this way?
—Kate Wong, Scientific American, 4 Oct. 2023
Noun
Meg also mentioned that spitting is not usually seen in vertebrates outside humans, camels, llamas, and alpacas.
—Kelli Bender, Peoplemag, 8 Mar. 2024
The results of the study challenge the idea that the speed of skeletal movement in vertebrates is limited by muscle movement, the museum said.
—Jennifer Rodriguez, Miami Herald, 3 Mar. 2024
Previous studies have linked over 100 genes to the development of tails in vertebrates, so the general belief has been that tail loss occurred through changes in DNA’s code–or mutations–on more than one gene.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 29 Feb. 2024
Known as placoderms, these primitive jawed vertebrates came in all shapes and sizes, from small bottom-dwellers to giant filter-feeders.
—Jack Tamisiea, New York Times, 30 Jan. 2024
And her Museum of Vertebrate Zoology -or zoology as the experts say- is one of the top 10 vertebrate collections in the world, used by scientists for research worldwide.
—Katie Hafner, Scientific American, 4 Jan. 2024
By the turn of the century, asexual reproduction had been documented in nearly every branch of vertebrates, with the exception of mammals (which most biologists had written off, for reasons explained below) and cartilaginous fish.
—Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 22 Mar. 2024
For example, vertebrates’ walking tempos are set by circuits in their spines that fire without any conscious input from the brain.
—Quanta Magazine, 11 Mar. 2024
In other words: these vertebrate worms feed their offspring with milk from their butts.
—Popular Science, 7 Mar. 2024
Adjective
That's when Li saw a vertebrate fossil sitting in some rubble by the side of the road in Guizhou province in southern China.
—Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 20 Mar. 2024
Well besides us and a few other mammals, like dolphins and bats, amongst the other vertebrate lineages, only birds have species that evolved vocal learning.
—Nicholas Stfleur, STAT, 15 Mar. 2024
Either way, the enduring mystery of how closely humans and sea lamprey fit on the vertebrate family tree will continue.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 22 Feb. 2024
Just as trees contain rings that can be counted to determine their ages and growth histories, bones contain rings that record a vertebrate animal's age and its rate and duration of growth.
—Michael D. D'emic, Scientific American, 1 Sep. 2023
The results are bleak: the supercomputer says 10 percent of all plant and animal species will disappear by 2050, and 27 percent of vertebrate diversity will vanish by 2100.
—Tim Newcomb, Popular Mechanics, 18 Jan. 2023
Other studies have found similar results, suggesting that these animals can create complex relationships to pain like vertebrate animals.
—Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Ars Technica, 7 Oct. 2023
Thankfully, for our understanding of vertebrate history, the scientists were careful enough to keep the skin sample from becoming dust.
—Popular Science, 11 Jan. 2024
Do any other vertebrate groups measure up to cats in this way?
—Kate Wong, Scientific American, 4 Oct. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'vertebrate.' 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
“Vertebrate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vertebrate. Accessed 23 Apr. 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 adjective
ver·te·brate
ˈvərt-ə-brət
-ˌbrāt
-ˌbrāt
1
: having a spinal column
2
: of or relating to the subphylum Vertebrata
vertebrate
2 of 2 noun
: an animal of the subphylum Vertebrata
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