invertebrate

adjective

in·​ver·​te·​brate (ˌ)in-ˈvər-tə-brət  -ˌbrāt 

1

: lacking a spinal column

also : of, relating to, or concerned with invertebrate animals

2

: lacking in strength or vitality : weak

invertebrate noun

Synonyms

• characterless
• effete
• frail
• limp-wristed
• milk-and-water
• namby-pamby
• nerveless
• soft
• spineless
• weak
• weak-kneed
• weakened
• weakling
• wet [British]
• wimpish
• wimpy
• wishy-washy

Examples of invertebrate in a Sentence

an invertebrate Congress that blithely went along with the President's ill-conceived plan

Recent Examples on the Web

Jessica Ware is associate curator of invertebrate zoology at the American Museum of Natural History. —Avery Hurt, Discover Magazine, 3 Feb. 2023

A year later, the state budgeted $10 million to pull DNA out of historic insect collections, as well as to launch ambitious new field studies to better understand the extent of California’s invertebrate biodiversity. —Los Angeles Times, 24 Dec. 2022

Siddall, a curator of invertebrate zoology at the American Museum of Natural History in New York, is one of the world’s foremost leech experts. —Mark Siddall, Discover Magazine, 5 Sep. 2012

Initial invertebrate samples conducted by Long indicate that diversity has not been negatively affected, but appears to be stronger than pre-fire reports. —Jake Frederico, The Arizona Republic, 13 Dec. 2022

Word History

Etymology

New Latin invertebratus, from Latin in- + New Latin vertebratus vertebrate

First Known Use

1819, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

invertebrate

1 of 2 adjective

in·​ver·​te·​brate

(ˈ)in-ˈvərt-ə-brət,

-ˌbrāt

: lacking a backbone

an invertebrate animal

also : of or relating to invertebrate animals

invertebrate fossils

invertebrate

2 of 2 noun

: an animal (as a worm, clam, spider, or butterfly) that lacks a backbone

Medical Definition

invertebrate

1 of 2 noun

in·​ver·​te·​brate (ˈ)in-ˈvərt-ə-brət  -ˌbrāt 

: an animal having no backbone or internal skeleton

invertebrate

2 of 2 adjective

: lacking a spinal column

also : of or relating to invertebrate animals