Meaning & use

invertebrate

noun·Academic

An animal that lacks a backbone or spinal column, such as an insect or worm.

See it in a sentence

Snails, spiders, and jellyfish are all common examples of invertebrates found near the coast.

The marine biologist specialized in studying invertebrates living on the ocean floor.

A note on using this word

The opposite category is 'vertebrate'; invertebrates make up the vast majority of animal species.

Words with a similar meaning

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Words with an opposite meaning

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