invertebrate
adjective
in·ver·te·brate
(ˌ)in-ˈvər-tə-brət 
-ˌbrāt
-ˌbrāt
1
: lacking a spinal column
also
: of, relating to, or concerned with invertebrate animals
2
: lacking in strength or vitality : weak
invertebrate
noun
Synonyms
Examples of invertebrate in a Sentence
an invertebrate Congress that blithely went along with the President's ill-conceived plan
Recent Examples on the Web
Jessica Ware is associate curator of invertebrate zoology at the American Museum of Natural History.
—
Avery Hurt, Discover Magazine, 3 Feb. 2023
A year later, the state budgeted $10 million to pull DNA out of historic insect collections, as well as to launch ambitious new field studies to better understand the extent of California’s invertebrate biodiversity.
—Los Angeles Times, 24 Dec. 2022
Siddall, a curator of invertebrate zoology at the American Museum of Natural History in New York, is one of the world’s foremost leech experts.
—Mark Siddall, Discover Magazine, 5 Sep. 2012
Initial invertebrate samples conducted by Long indicate that diversity has not been negatively affected, but appears to be stronger than pre-fire reports.
—Jake Frederico, The Arizona Republic, 13 Dec. 2022
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Avery Hurt, Discover Magazine, 3 Feb. 2023
A year later, the state budgeted $10 million to pull DNA out of historic insect collections, as well as to launch ambitious new field studies to better understand the extent of California’s invertebrate biodiversity.
—Los Angeles Times, 24 Dec. 2022
Siddall, a curator of invertebrate zoology at the American Museum of Natural History in New York, is one of the world’s foremost leech experts.
—Mark Siddall, Discover Magazine, 5 Sep. 2012
Initial invertebrate samples conducted by Long indicate that diversity has not been negatively affected, but appears to be stronger than pre-fire reports.
—Jake Frederico, The Arizona Republic, 13 Dec. 2022
See all Example Sentences for invertebrate
Dictionary Entries Near invertebrate
Cite this Entry
“Invertebrate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/invertebrate. Accessed 12 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
invertebrate
1 of 2 noun
in·ver·te·brate
(ˈ)in-ˈvərt-ə-brət
-ˌbrāt
-ˌbrāt
: an animal having no backbone or internal skeleton
invertebrate
2 of 2 adjective
: lacking a spinal column
also
: of or relating to invertebrate animals
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