embryonic

Also em·bry·o·nal

[em-bree-on-ik]

adjective

1. pertaining to or in the state of an embryo.

2. rudimentary; undeveloped.

   Synonyms: unfinished, immature, underdeveloped

embryonic

/ ˌɛmbrɪˈɒnɪk, ˈɛmbrɪənəl /

adjective

1. of or relating to an embryo

2. in an early stage; rudimentary; undeveloped

Other Word Forms

• embryonically adverb
• nonembryonal adjective
• nonembryonic adjective
• nonembryonically adverb
• pseudoembryonic adjective
• unembryonal adjective
• unembryonic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of embryonic¹

1840–50; embryon- ( embryo ) + -ic

Example Sentences

The 2025-26 Premier League season is barely a game old but, for Sunderland fans, the embryonic table merits more than just a cursory glance.

From BBC

As for Tesfaye, he’s not uninteresting as a screen presence, but it’s an embryonic magnetism, in need of material richer than a bunch of close-ups that culminate in a howl of a ballad.

From Los Angeles Times

Bowing to religious and partisan ideologues in 2001, George W. Bush restricted embryonic stem cell research.

From Los Angeles Times

There have been six different prime ministers in the UK, Brexit, a global pandemic and three Olympic Games, and women's cricket is now unrecognisable from the days when professionalism was embryonic.

From BBC

Arhgap36, a protein involved in many aspects of embryonic development, wasn’t previously known to affect skin or hair coloration.

From Science Magazine

Related Words

• evolving www.thesaurus.com
• immature 
• incipient 
• undeveloped