em·bryo
ˈem-brē-ˌō 
plural embryos
1
a
: an animal in the early stages of growth and differentiation that are characterized by cleavage, the laying down of fundamental tissues, and the formation of primitive organs and organ systems
especially
: the developing human individual from the time of implantation to the end of the eighth week after conception
b
archaic
: a vertebrate at any stage of development prior to birth or hatching
2
: the young sporophyte of a seed plant usually comprising a rudimentary plant with plumule, radicle, and cotyledons
3
a
: something as yet undeveloped
b
: a beginning or undeveloped state of something
productions seen in embryo during their out-of-town tryout period—
Henry Hewes
Henry Hewes
: embryo
embryogeny
Examples of embryo in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 21 May 2025
The blast damaged several nearby buildings, officials said but the fertility clinic reported on social media its staff were safe, and no eggs or embryos were damaged.
—Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 20 May 2025
The center said on Facebook that its lab, including all eggs and embryos, was not damaged in the explosion.
—Minyvonne Burke, NBC news, 19 May 2025
The fertility clinic near the blast, the American Reproductive Centers of Palm Springs, said in a statement that its staff members, as well as eggs, embryos and reproductive materials, were unharmed in the blast.
—Chris Looft, ABC News, 19 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for embryo
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Noun
Despite significant damage to the clinic, all embryos and reproductive materials were preserved, and the facility has since resumed operations.
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 21 May 2025
The blast damaged several nearby buildings, officials said but the fertility clinic reported on social media its staff were safe, and no eggs or embryos were damaged.
—Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 20 May 2025
The center said on Facebook that its lab, including all eggs and embryos, was not damaged in the explosion.
—Minyvonne Burke, NBC news, 19 May 2025
The fertility clinic near the blast, the American Reproductive Centers of Palm Springs, said in a statement that its staff members, as well as eggs, embryos and reproductive materials, were unharmed in the blast.
—Chris Looft, ABC News, 19 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for embryo
Cite this Entry
“Embryo.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/embryo. Accessed 7 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
embryo
noun
em·bryo
ˈem-brē-ˌō
plural embryos
1
: an animal in the early stages of development that are marked by cleavage, the laying down of the basic tissues, and the formation of primitive organs and organ systems compare fetus
2
: a tiny young plant within a seed
3
: a beginning or undeveloped stage
—used especially in the phrase in embryo
Medical Definition
embryo
noun
em·bryo
ˈem-brē-ˌō
plural embryos
1
archaic
: a vertebrate at any stage of development prior to birth or hatching
2
: an animal in the early stages of growth and differentiation that are characterized by cleavage, the laying down of fundamental tissues, and the formation of primitive organs and organ systems
especially
: the developing human individual from the time of implantation to the end of the eighth week after conception compare fetus
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