embryonic
Americanadjective
-
pertaining to or in the state of an embryo.
-
rudimentary; undeveloped.
- Synonyms:
- unfinished, immature, underdeveloped
adjective
-
of or relating to an embryo
-
in an early stage; rudimentary; undeveloped
Other Word Forms
- embryonically adverb
- nonembryonal adjective
- nonembryonic adjective
- nonembryonically adverb
- pseudoembryonic adjective
- unembryonal adjective
- unembryonic adjective
Etymology
Origin of embryonic
Explanation
If something is described as embryonic, it's just starting to develop or come together. An "embryo" is a person or animal that is still growing in the womb or egg, and embryonic means "like an embryo." The idea for Facebook was still embryonic when its creators agreed to be partners. At that early stage, none of them could have imagined what an enormous company it would become. Scientists working on embryonic stem-cell research are working on stem cells from embryos, which have special properties not found in any other cells. Our relationship was still embryonic when you suggested we move in together, but for me, the first date is way too early to think about such things.
Vocabulary lists containing embryonic
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
While this purse string model applies broadly, it does not explain division in species with especially large embryonic cells, including sharks, platypus, birds and reptiles.
From Science Daily • Feb. 28, 2026
Europe must work a lot harder to give them protection while they are in a very embryonic state, he adds.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 22, 2026
They rarely work with finished products; instead, they nurture embryonic ideas.
From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 27, 2025
There are real concerns with IVF in America, even for those who do not belong to the movement for embryonic personhood.
From Slate • Oct. 7, 2025
One embryonic segment becomes the second section of the thorax and grows two wings.
From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
