embryonic

adjective

em·​bry·​on·​ic ˌem-brē-ˈä-nik How to pronounce embryonic (audio)
1
: of or relating to an embryo
2
: being in an early stage of development : incipient, rudimentary
an embryonic plan
embryonically adverb

Examples of embryonic in a Sentence

The tourism industry there is still in an embryonic stage.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The Texas Supreme Court is also currently considering taking up a lawsuit over IVF embryo division after a divorce — a case that could allow the court's nine conservative justices to rule on embryonic personhood. Bayliss Wagner, Austin American-Statesman, 23 May 2024 Mount and Fernandes’ partnership as false nines is in its embryonic stages and the success of Ten Hag’s approach is dependent on every player fulfilling their role in the system, not just the front two. Mark Critchley, The Athletic, 29 Aug. 2024 For instance, the team of archeologists found embryonic signs of trade. Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 31 Oct. 2024 Seventeen years ago, the world woke up to an astounding scientific breakthrough: a team of Japanese scientists, led by Shinya Yamanaka, had reprogrammed skin cells to resemble an embryonic state. Juergen Eckhardt, Forbes, 9 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for embryonic 

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin embryonicus, from embryon-, embryo embryo + Latin -icus -ic entry 1

First Known Use

1740, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of embryonic was in 1740

Dictionary Entries Near embryonic

Cite this Entry

“Embryonic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/embryonic. Accessed 17 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

embryonic

adjective
em·​bry·​on·​ic ˌem-brē-ˈän-ik How to pronounce embryonic (audio)
1
: of or relating to an embryo
2
: being in an early stage of development
an embryonic plan
embryonically adverb

Medical Definition

embryonic

adjective
em·​bry·​on·​ic ˌem-brē-ˈän-ik How to pronounce embryonic (audio)
1
: of or relating to an embryo
2
: being in an early stage of development : incipient, rudimentary
embryonically adverb
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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