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

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!