n :  an animal sufficiently like humans in its anatomy, physiology, or response to a pathogen to be used in medical research in order to obtain results that can be extrapolated to human medicine : also  :  a pathological or physiological condition that occurs in such an animal and is similar (as in its pathology or physiology) to a human condition <experimental allergic encephalomyelitis is a useful animal model in the study of multiple sclerosis in humans>  .
 
 
 
Published under license with Merriam-Webster, Incorporated.  © 1997-2024.