invertebrate
Americanadjective
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Zoology.
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not vertebrate; without a backbone.
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of or relating to creatures without a backbone.
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without strength of character.
noun
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invertebrates
plural
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an invertebrate animal.
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a person who lacks strength of character.
noun
adjective
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of invertebrate
From the New Latin word invertebrātus, dating back to 1820–30. See in- 3, vertebrate
Explanation
An invertebrate is an animal without a backbone. Invertebrate animals include fruit flies and sea sponges. Your backbone allows you to stand up straight, and it also allows you to be grouped with the other vertebrates: animals with backbones. Invertebrates are the opposite: they have no backbone. These are the two major groups of animals. Also, this word is used for people who are spineless in the sense of having no courage. You could say a coward acts in an invertebrate way. Whether it's a backbone-free animal or a courage-free person, all invertebrates lack spines.
Vocabulary lists containing invertebrate
Tyrannosaurus Lex(icon)
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Life Science: Organisms and Taxonomy
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Animals (Zoology) - Introductory
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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.
See Examples For:
It is believed to be home to more than 100 plant species and rich invertebrate fauna, and is recognised as one of the most important chalk river habitats in England.
From BBC ● Aug. 2, 2026
By regularly monitoring the invertebrate life in rivers and burns, any deterioration in water quality can quickly be detected.
From BBC ● May 26, 2026
The findings address a long-standing gap in understanding how both vertebrate and invertebrate eyes continue growing and sustaining themselves.
From Science Daily ● Dec. 2, 2025
In the second major Ocean Species Discoveries collection, more than 20 researchers collaborated to describe 14 new marine invertebrate species and two new genera from across the globe.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 2, 2025
In organic chemistry, invertebrate zoology, and the inspired symmetry of Mendelian genetics, I have found a religion that serves.
From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver
Spiders belong to a large group of invertebrates called chelicerates, which also includes scorpions and ticks.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 4, 2026
Bates said many discoveries from fruit fly neuroscience have carried over from invertebrates to mammals, including findings related to navigation, olfaction, and memory.
From Science Daily ● Jun. 10, 2026
But we show that if you could identify it, you’d have a level playing field to compare humans, invertebrates, and computers.
From Science Daily ● Jun. 5, 2026
Space4Nature said some 350 volunteers had been trained in ecological surveys for both invertebrates and vegetation.
From BBC ● Jun. 4, 2026
Offshore, an unfinished break wall was home to kelp beds and invertebrates.
From "The Line Tender" by Kate Allen
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.
