Achordata

plural noun

Achor·​da·​ta

¦āˌ-kȯr-ˈdä-tə,

-ˈdā-tə

: an arbitrary subdivision of the animal kingdom including all animals lacking a notochord

—opposed to Chordata

achordate

(ˈ)ā-¦kȯr-ˌdāt

-dət

adjective or noun

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from a- entry 2 + Chordata

First Known Use

1889, in the meaning defined above

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