zygote

IPA/ˈzaɪɡəʊt/
KK[zˈaɪɡot]IPA/ˈzaɪɡəʊt/

zygote — noun

  • zygotesingular
  • zygotesplural

1. A single living cell created when an egg from the mother and a sperm from the fa

1.nounB2
Definition

A single living cell created when an egg from the mother and a sperm from the father combine, marking the very start of a new organism's development.

Example

After the egg and sperm joined, the zygote began to divide inside Noa's womb.

zygote + began to divide (cell division pattern)

In biology class, the students learned that a zygote contains DNA from both parents.

zygote contains DNA from both parents

Common collocations
  • zygote divides
  • zygote develops
  • zygote forms
  • healthy zygote
  • single zygote
Synonyms
  • fertilized egg

    Less technical; used in everyday health contexts. A 'fertilized egg' becomes a 'zygote' once the two sets of chromosomes have fully combined.

  • fertilized ovum

    Scientific term; 'ovum' means egg cell. Slightly more formal but refers to exactly the same structure.

Grammar Patterns

zygote + verb (divides / develops / forms)

Usage Note

A biological term used in medicine and science. The zygote stage lasts only about 24 hours before the cell begins dividing into an embryo. Often used with verbs like 'divides', 'develops', or 'forms'.

Common Mistakes

The zygote has already developed arms and legs.
The zygote has already begun to divide into more cells.
A zygote is the first single cell; arms and legs develop much later at the embryo or fetus stage.
The couple adopted a zygote.
The couple's fertilized egg became a zygote inside the womb.
'Zygote' is a biological cell, not a child; it is not something you adopt.

Word family

  • zygotic
    adjectiveC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

These four terms describe different stages or components of reproduction. A 'gamete' is the individual reproductive cell — either the egg (from the mother) or the sperm (from the father). A 'zygote' is the single cell formed the moment a sperm and egg join. Once the zygote begins dividing and implants in the womb, it is called an 'embryo' (roughly weeks 2–8 of human development). After the main body structures have formed, the term 'fetus' is used (from about week 9 onward). In everyday speech, people sometimes use 'embryo' loosely for all early stages, but in biology the sequence is precise: gamete → zygote → embryo → fetus.

zygote ↗embryo ↗fetus ↗gamete

Common collocations

Nouns

  • zygote formation
  • zygote stage
  • zygote cell
  • zygote division

Phrases

  • zygote develops into an embryo
  • healthy zygote

Prepositions

  • into (a zygote develops into an embryo)

Etymology

GreekGermanEnglish

The word 'zygote' was borrowed from German 'Zygote' in the late 1800s, ultimately from Greek 'zygotos' meaning 'yoked' or 'joined together', which comes from 'zygon' (yoke). The name was chosen because the zygote is formed by two reproductive cells joining — just as two animals are yoked together to work as one.

First known use

1887

1887, in the meaning defined above