developmental
adjective
de·vel·op·men·tal
dē-ˌve-ləp-ˈmen-tᵊl 
1
a
: of, relating to, or being development
developmental processes
developmental biology
b
: serving economic development
developmental highways
2
: designed to assist growth or bring about improvement (as of a skill)
developmental toys
Examples of developmental in a Sentence
A drop in temperature can slow the plant's developmental process.
a child with developmental abnormalities
My theory is still in its developmental stage.
Recent Examples on the Web
People with Pitt-Hopkins syndrome experience developmental delays, lack of speech, recurrent seizures or epilepsy, distinctive facial features, breathing issues and more.
—
Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Jan. 2026
Marshall, Duck and Bonner all have upside, but are still in the developmental stages.
—Miami Herald, 31 Dec. 2025
The mixed autism spectrum disorder with developmental delays group included almost 20% of participants, who showed early delays in key milestones but few signs of anxiety, depression or disruptive behavior.
—The Baltimore Sun, Boston Herald, 30 Dec. 2025
One in three children in the country are affected; the consequences can include developmental delays and neurologic deficits as well as kidney and cardiovascular problems later in life.
—Fran Kritz, NPR, 30 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for developmental
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Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Jan. 2026
Marshall, Duck and Bonner all have upside, but are still in the developmental stages.
—Miami Herald, 31 Dec. 2025
The mixed autism spectrum disorder with developmental delays group included almost 20% of participants, who showed early delays in key milestones but few signs of anxiety, depression or disruptive behavior.
—The Baltimore Sun, Boston Herald, 30 Dec. 2025
One in three children in the country are affected; the consequences can include developmental delays and neurologic deficits as well as kidney and cardiovascular problems later in life.
—Fran Kritz, NPR, 30 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for developmental
Cite this Entry
“Developmental.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/developmental. Accessed 7 Jan. 2026.
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