invertebrate

1 of 2noun

/ɪnˈvɜrtəbrət/

Forms:invertebrates

species that do not possess or cannot develop a spinal column, such as an arthropod, mollusk, etc.

Invertebrates like butterflies and ants are vital to garden ecosystems.
Crabs and lobsters are marine invertebrates with hard exoskeletons.
The pond teemed with tiny invertebrates that served as food for larger fish.
Spiders are arachnids, a type of invertebrate that spins webs to catch prey.
She studied various invertebrates in biology class, including earthworms and jellyfish.