coelenterate

noun

coe·​len·​ter·​ate si-ˈlen-tə-ˌrāt How to pronounce coelenterate (audio)
-rət
: cnidarian
Like corals and jellyfish, sea anemones are coelenterates, a name that sacrifices poetry for scientific precision; it means that they have a hollow gut.— Richard Conniff

Word History

Etymology

ultimately from Greek koilos + enteron intestine — more at inter-

First Known Use

1873, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of coelenterate was in 1873

Browse Nearby Words

Coelelmintha
coelenterate
coelenteron
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Coelenterate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coelenterate. Accessed 28 Apr. 2025.

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Kids Definition

coelenterate

noun
coel·​en·​ter·​ate
si-ˈlent-ə-ˌrāt,
-rət
: any of a phylum of invertebrate animals including the corals, sea anemones, sea fans, jellyfishes, and hydras and usually have a body with radial symmetry

called also cnidarian

coelenterate adjective

Medical Definition

coelenterate

noun
coe·​len·​ter·​ate si-ˈlent-ə-ˌrāt, -rət How to pronounce coelenterate (audio)
: any invertebrate animal of the phylum Cnidaria

called also cnidarian

coelenterate adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on coelenterate

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about coelenterate

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