Metazoan

Origin

Metazoa + -an

Full definition of metazoan

Noun

1. (zoology) Any animal that undergoes development from an embryo stage with three tissue layers, namely the ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm. The term applies to all animals except the sponges.

Related terms

• parazoan

Adjective

1. Having to do with animals that develop from an embryo with three tissue layers.

Synonyms

• metazoic

Related terms

• parazoan