chordate: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Technical/Scientific
Quick answer
What does “chordate” mean?
An animal of the phylum Chordata, possessing at some stage of development a notochord, a dorsal nerve cord, pharyngeal slits, and a post-anal tail.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An animal of the phylum Chordata, possessing at some stage of development a notochord, a dorsal nerve cord, pharyngeal slits, and a post-anal tail.
Can be used informally to denote any organism belonging to this major animal group, which includes vertebrates (like mammals, birds, fish) and some invertebrate subphyla (like tunicates and lancelets).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling is identical.
Connotations
Purely scientific/biological term in both dialects.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general discourse, used exclusively in biological/zoological contexts. No regional variation in frequency.
Grammar
How to Use “chordate” in a Sentence
[Chordate] + [verb: includes/evolved/possesses][Adjective] + [chordate]Phylum + [of chordates]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “chordate” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The lancelet exhibits key chordate features in its larval stage.
- Their research focused on chordate development.
American English
- The fossil showed clear chordate characteristics.
- Understanding chordate phylogeny is central to the study.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Standard term in biology, zoology, evolutionary studies, and palaeontology.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Precise taxonomic classification in scientific literature, research, and education.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “chordate”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “chordate”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “chordate”
- Mispronouncing as /tʃɔːrdeɪt/ (like 'chord' in music). The 'ch' is a /k/ sound.
- Using it as a common synonym for 'animal' or 'vertebrate'.
- Misspelling as 'chordata' (which is the phylum name).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Vertebrates (animals with backbones) are a large subphylum within Chordata, but the phylum also includes invertebrate chordates like tunicates and lancelets.
'Chordata' is the formal name of the phylum (a taxonomic rank). 'Chordate' is a noun for any member of that phylum, or an adjective describing its features.
No, it is a specialised scientific term. You will only encounter it in biological, zoological, or palaeontological contexts.
Pronounce it with a hard 'c' (/k/), like 'core-date'. The 'ch' is not pronounced like in 'church'.
An animal of the phylum Chordata, possessing at some stage of development a notochord, a dorsal nerve cord, pharyngeal slits, and a post-anal tail.
Chordate is usually technical/scientific in register.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a CORD connecting your spine. CHORDATE animals have a similar structure called a notochord.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE TREE OF LIFE (chordates are a major branch).
Practice
Quiz
Which of these animals is NOT a chordate?