embryonic
Americanadjective
-
pertaining to or in the state of an embryo.
-
rudimentary; undeveloped.
- Synonyms:
- unfinished, immature, underdeveloped
adjective
-
of or relating to an embryo
-
in an early stage; rudimentary; undeveloped
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of embryonic
Explanation
If something is described as embryonic, it's just starting to develop or come together. An "embryo" is a person or animal that is still growing in the womb or egg, and embryonic means "like an embryo." The idea for Facebook was still embryonic when its creators agreed to be partners. At that early stage, none of them could have imagined what an enormous company it would become. Scientists working on embryonic stem-cell research are working on stem cells from embryos, which have special properties not found in any other cells. Our relationship was still embryonic when you suggested we move in together, but for me, the first date is way too early to think about such things.
Vocabulary lists containing embryonic
100 SAT Words Beginning with "E"
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The Double Helix
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
To illustrate the embryonic technology’s potential danger, Mr. Bostrom imagines a superintelligent machine that is given the objective of maximizing production of paper clips.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026
Since many ports lack the grid infrastructure to power so many energy-guzzling ships, and emission-capture technology is embryonic, ships may have no choice but to pay the fines.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 27, 2026
"But it's important to begin at the earliest stages of embryonic development. Our careful attention to that early time point allowed us to find this fundamental split in brain development."
From Science Daily ● Sep. 21, 2026
Congenital heart disease refers to structural abnormalities of the heart that arise during embryonic development.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 15, 2026
Each day, at her microscope, examining the embryonic salmon for flaws in their structure, Claire looked at the large dark spots that were their primitive, unformed eyes.
From "Son" by Lois Lowry
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
