Chordata

[ kawr-dey-tuh, -dah- ]

noun

, Zoology.

1. the phylum comprising the chordates.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Chordata¹

1875–80; < New Latin, equivalent to chord ( a ) ( chord ¹ ) + Latin -āta, neuter plural of -ātus -ate ¹

Example Sentences

Just one level more specific than kingdom, a phylum is a cavernous space to occupy alone: Our phylum, Chordata, overflows with more than 65,000 living species ranging from peacocks to whales to eels.

From Scientific American

If you are reading this, the odds are high that you are a member of the animal kingdom: phylum Chordata, class Mammalia, species Homo sapiens.

From Washington Post

Pyrosomes are pelagic Tunicates, which are part of Chordata, a phylum that includes humans.

From Washington Post

Chordata is the most well known group, even though it is quite small in the number of individuals it contains.

From Scientific American

Scientists recognize eight major phyla to describe most common animals: Porifera, Cnidaria, Platyhelminthes, Annelida, Mollusca, Arthropoda, Echinodermata and Chordata.

From Scientific American