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

1. Having no backbone or spinal column.

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 Word Forms

• invertebracy noun
• invertebrateness 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 greater flamingo's pink colouring comes from a diet high in carotenoids - pigments found in algae and invertebrates such as shrimp.

From BBC

“It sharpens our focus on what it might take to reintroduce these animals in a way that is thoughtful, informed, and sustainable,” said Johnathan Casey, the aquarium’s curator of fish and invertebrates.

From Los Angeles Times

The parasitic fungus species belongs to a group that infects their invertebrate hosts and takes control before killing them as part of their spore-spreading mechanisms.

From BBC

Some invertebrates can live for thousands of years, and the oldest known sea sponges have been dated to be 18,000 years old, Levin said.

From Salon

So the question of cyborg ethics is currently a question of the ethics of creating cyborgs from invertebrate animals.

From Salon

Related Words

• beast 
• creature 
• pet