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
Evan Bush, NBC News, 29 Feb. 2024
Modern-day vertebrates exhibit a variety of growth strategies.
—Michael D. D'emic, Scientific American, 1 Sep. 2023
See all Example Sentences for vertebrate 
Noun
Why vertebrates have developed the ability to reproduce asexually is a bit of mystery.
—Evan Bush, NBC News, 29 Feb. 2024
Modern-day vertebrates exhibit a variety of growth strategies.
—Michael D. D'emic, Scientific American, 1 Sep. 2023
See all Example Sentences for vertebrate
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 29 May. 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
: 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 adjective
ver·te·brate
ˈvərt-ə-brət
-ˌbrāt
-ˌbrāt
1
: having a spinal column
2
: of or relating to the subphylum Vertebrata
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