invertebrate

[ in-vur-tuh-brit, -breyt ]

adjective

1. Zoology.
   1. not vertebrate; without a backbone.
   2. of or relating to creatures without a backbone.
2. without strength of character.

noun

1. an invertebrate animal.
2. a person who lacks strength of character.

invertebrate

/ -ˌbreɪt; ɪnˈvɜːtɪbrɪt /

noun

1. any animal lacking a backbone, including all species not classified as vertebrates

adjective

1. of, relating to, or designating invertebrates

invertebrate

/ ĭn-vûr′tə-brĭt,-brāt′ /

Adjective

1. Having no backbone or spinal column.

Noun

1. An animal that has no backbone or spinal column and therefore does not belong to the subphylum Vertebrata of the phylum Chordata. Most animals are invertebrates. Corals, insects, worms, jellyfish, starfish, and snails are invertebrates.

Other Words From

• in·ver·te·bra·cy [in-, vur, -t, uh, -br, uh, -see], in·verte·brate·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of invertebrate¹

From the New Latin word invertebrātus, dating back to 1820–30. See in- ³, vertebrate

Example Sentences

The first is a study from the journal Current Biology found that ctenophores, a phlyum of aquatic invertebrates better known as comb jellies, can successfully fuse together after being injured.

From Salon

The situation is even murkier when it comes to invertebrates like shrimp, squid and octopus.

From Salon

It goes on to note that in research studies, these eight-legged marine invertebrates have demonstrated long-term memory as well as the ability to recognize individual people.

From Los Angeles Times

This is the first study to strongly indicate that a vertebrate species can use bubbles to breathe under water, a trait that several bugs and invertebrates are known to have adapted.

From Salon

This summer, Austin Hendy, an assistant curator at the Natural History Museum who specializes in invertebrate paleontology, spent hours sifting and sorting through thousands of fossilized shells found in the shell bed.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• beast
• creature
• pet