From in- + vertebrate.

• IPA: /ɪnˈvəːtɪbrət/

invertebrate (plural invertebrates)

1. An animal without vertebrae, i.e. backbone.
2. (informal) A spineless person; a coward.

• vertebrate

• French: invertébré
• German: Invertebrat, Wirbelloses
• Italian: invertebrato
• Portuguese: invertebrado
• Russian: беспозвоно́чное
• Spanish: invertebrado

invertebrate (not comparable)

1. Lacking a backbone; without vertebrae.
   • 1860, Recreative Science, page 110:

     Tear it up, and put a fragment under the microscope, and, wonder of wonders! see the maze of geometric forms exhibited in the bones of the creature; for who can help regarding the spicules as bones, even though a sponge be invertebrate?

2. Cowardly, uncourageous; lacking character.

   Synonyms: spineless

• vertebrate, vertebrated

• French: invertébré
• German: wirbellos
• Italian: invertebrato
• Portuguese: invertebrado
• Russian: беспозвоно́чный
• Spanish: invertebrado