em·bryo
ˈem-brē-ˌō 
plural embryos
1
a
: an animal in the early stages of growth and differentiation that are characterized by cleavage, the laying down of fundamental tissues, and the formation of primitive organs and organ systems
especially
: the developing human individual from the time of implantation to the end of the eighth week after conception
b
archaic
: a vertebrate at any stage of development prior to birth or hatching
2
: the young sporophyte of a seed plant usually comprising a rudimentary plant with plumule, radicle, and cotyledons
3
a
: something as yet undeveloped
b
: a beginning or undeveloped state of something
… productions seen in embryo during their out-of-town tryout period …—
Henry Hewes
Henry Hewes
: embryo
embryogeny
Examples of embryo in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
CNN Money, 16 Mar. 2026
Seeds protected plant embryos and allowed plants to survive harsh conditions like drought or cold.
—Erin Potter, The Conversation, 16 Mar. 2026
Her Jewish faith also teaches that the health of a pregnant woman is more important than the life of an embryo or fetus, according to court documents.
—Alexandra Kukulka, Chicago Tribune, 14 Mar. 2026
Leaving seeds in the water too long can cause rot and kill the plant embryo.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for embryo
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Noun
At least one, Alabama, extended the concept of personhood all the way to the earliest stages of fertilization and conception by giving frozen embryos the same legal status as children, though the Legislature later said the law couldn’t be enforced.
—CNN Money, 16 Mar. 2026
Seeds protected plant embryos and allowed plants to survive harsh conditions like drought or cold.
—Erin Potter, The Conversation, 16 Mar. 2026
Her Jewish faith also teaches that the health of a pregnant woman is more important than the life of an embryo or fetus, according to court documents.
—Alexandra Kukulka, Chicago Tribune, 14 Mar. 2026
Leaving seeds in the water too long can cause rot and kill the plant embryo.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for embryo
Cite this Entry
“Embryo.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/embryo. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
embryo
noun
em·bryo
ˈem-brē-ˌō
plural embryos
1
: an animal in the early stages of development that are marked by cleavage, the laying down of the basic tissues, and the formation of primitive organs and organ systems compare fetus
2
: a tiny young plant within a seed
3
: a beginning or undeveloped stage
—used especially in the phrase in embryo
Medical Definition
embryo
noun
em·bryo
ˈem-brē-ˌō
plural embryos
1
archaic
: a vertebrate at any stage of development prior to birth or hatching
2
: an animal in the early stages of growth and differentiation that are characterized by cleavage, the laying down of fundamental tissues, and the formation of primitive organs and organ systems
especially
: the developing human individual from the time of implantation to the end of the eighth week after conception compare fetus
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