vertebrate

American  

[vur-tuh-brit, -brayt] / ˈvɜr tə brɪt, -ˌbreɪt /

adjective

1. having vertebrae; having a backbone or spinal column.

2. belonging or pertaining to the Vertebrata (or Craniata), a subphylum of chordate animals, comprising those having a brain enclosed in a skull or cranium and a segmented spinal column; a major taxonomic group that includes mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fishes.

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noun

• vertebrates
  plural

1. a vertebrate animal.

vertebrate British  

/ ˈvɜːtɪˌbreɪt, -brɪt /

noun

1. any chordate animal of the subphylum Vertebrata, characterized by a bony or cartilaginous skeleton and a well-developed brain: the group contains fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals

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adjective

1. of, relating to, or belonging to the subphylum Vertebrata

vertebrate Scientific  

/ vûr′tə-brĭt,-brāt′ /

1. Any of a large group of chordates of the subphylum Vertebrata (or Craniata), characterized by having a backbone. Vertebrates are bilaterally symmetrical and have an internal skeleton of bone or cartilage, a nervous system divided into brain and spinal cord, and not more than two pairs of limbs. Vertebrates have a well-developed body cavity (called a coelom) containing a chambered heart, large digestive organs, liver, pancreas, and paired kidneys, and their blood contains both red and white corpuscles. Vertebrates include fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• subvertebrate
  noun
• nonvertebrate
  adjective
• unvertebrate
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• vertebrates
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of vertebrate

First recorded in 1820–30, vertebrate is from the Latin word vertebrātus jointed. See vertebra, -ate ¹

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Explanation

A vertebrate is an animal that has a backbone and a skeleton. Vertebrate animals include humans. When you think about vertebrates, think about bones: this word has to do with animals that have a lot of bones, in the form of a skeleton. It especially refers to animals with a backbone, which protects their spinal cord. Vertebrates have many bones, including a skull which protects their brains, which tend to be large. People, dogs, horses, lizards, dogs, cats, and many other animals are in the vertebrate category. Animals without a backbone are called invertebrates.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

vertebrate vertebrates

The maximum lifespan can average 400 years, the longest lifespan of any known vertebrate, meaning there are apparently Greenland sharks that are older than the United States.

From Salon ● Oct. 9, 2026

The findings may also help explain a major turning point in vertebrate evolution: the rise of birds.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 9, 2026

The researchers describe vertebrate eyes as the product of an unusual evolutionary detour.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 26, 2026

"Amphibians are the fastest-declining vertebrate group globally," she said.

From BBC ● May 31, 2026

“Interesting. It’s difficult to observe if it’s chemiluminescent vertebrate or bioluminescent bacteria.”

From "The Last Cuentista" by Donna Barba Higuera

Because these frogs are so difficult to find and observe, diamond frogs remain among the least studied vertebrates in Madagascar.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 30, 2026

Greenland sharks are the longest-living vertebrates known to science, with some individuals surviving for as long as 400 years.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 23, 2026

The region’s rocks preserve fossils from different stages in the evolution of terrestrial vertebrates, including some of the oldest known dinosaurs and large predators that lived before the Age of Dinosaurs.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 10, 2026

They lure mosquitoes with carbon dioxide—all vertebrates release the gas with each exhale, so to mosquitoes, it usually signals a meal.

From Slate ● Aug. 4, 2026

There are vertebrates, to be sure, but not many.

From "The Amber Spyglass" by Philip Pullman

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