embryonic

adjective

em·​bry·​on·​ic ˌem-brē-ˈä-nik How to pronounce embryonic (audio)
1
: of or relating to an embryo
2
: being in an early stage of development : incipient, rudimentary
an embryonic plan
embryonically adverb

Examples of embryonic in a Sentence

The tourism industry there is still in an embryonic stage.
Recent Examples on the Web The couple was later told the culprit was a solution used to facilitate embryonic growth, which manufacturers voluntarily recalled in December – after the Waldens lost their embryos. Adrianna Rodriguez, USA TODAY, 27 Feb. 2024 First, showing that cell-cell signaling is not an unusual way for animals to generate embryonic germ cells — that is, cells that will become eggs and sperm. Quanta Magazine, 21 Feb. 2024 Though long gone are Lady Gaga's days of embryonic entrances, the music industry still comes to the Grammys to play and slay. Lester Fabian Brathwaite, EW.com, 4 Feb. 2024 The case for the baby great white sighting While in utero, embryonic sharks feed on unfertilized eggs for protein. Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 29 Jan. 2024 Like its predecessors, Archives Vol. 3 comes packed with embryonic sketches, rehearsals, studio jams, outtakes and complete live shows. Saby Reyes-Kulkarni, SPIN, 20 Dec. 2023 Hearing the voice actors reach back to channel the embryonic iterations of each character is a trip (so, so much belching, plus Dan Castellaneta's old Walter Matthau Homer voice), and plenty of nostalgic (if murderous) gags. Dennis Perkins, EW.com, 24 Nov. 2023 Both suicide bombings were the work of Hezbollah, then an embryonic cell fostered, armed, and trained by Iran just a year earlier. Robin Wright, The New Yorker, 6 Feb. 2024 Su and her colleagues were able to characterize the RNA into five distinct genetic profiles or time periods of embryonic development: the oocyte or egg, zygote or fertilized egg, cleavage, morula and blastocyst stages. Deborah Balthazar, STAT, 17 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'embryonic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin embryonicus, from embryon-, embryo embryo + Latin -icus -ic entry 1

First Known Use

1740, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of embryonic was in 1740

Dictionary Entries Near embryonic

Cite this Entry

“Embryonic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/embryonic. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

embryonic

adjective
em·​bry·​on·​ic ˌem-brē-ˈän-ik How to pronounce embryonic (audio)
1
: of or relating to an embryo
2
: being in an early stage of development
an embryonic plan
embryonically adverb

Medical Definition

embryonic

adjective
em·​bry·​on·​ic ˌem-brē-ˈän-ik How to pronounce embryonic (audio)
1
: of or relating to an embryo
2
: being in an early stage of development : incipient, rudimentary
embryonically adverb
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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