hormone

noun

hor·​mone ˈhȯr-ˌmōn 

1

: a product of living cells that circulates in body fluids (such as blood) or sap and produces a specific often stimulatory effect on the activity of cells usually remote from its point of origin

also : a synthetic substance that acts like a hormone

2

: sex hormone

hormonelike

ˈhȯr-ˌmōn-ˌlīk 

adjective

Examples of hormone in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The hormones, stress response and cycle timing that shape female physiology all change the math on cold water. — Samantha Agate, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Oct. 2026

Stress hormones release during exposure, and risks climb when the practice is misused. — Samantha Agate, Sacbee.com, 22 Oct. 2026

Seeing the puppies attempt to make a mad dash to their mother for milk, for example, can trigger an increase in levels of a hormone called oxytocin in a human brain, Koskinen said. — ABC News, 22 Oct. 2026

Other claims are that the dairy product aids fullness, weight loss and hormone production or regulation. — Kristen Rogers, CNN Money, 22 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Greek hormōn, present participle of horman to stir up, from hormē impulse, assault; akin to Greek ornynai to rouse — more at rise

First Known Use

1905, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing hormone

• adrenocorticotrophic hormone
• adrenocorticotropic hormone
• antidiuretic hormone
• brain hormone
• follicle-stimulating hormone
• gonadotropin-releasing hormone
• growth hormone
• hormone replacement therapy
• hormone therapy
• human growth hormone
• juvenile hormone
• luteinizing hormone
• luteinizing hormone-releasing factor
• luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone
• luteotrophic hormone
• luteotropic hormone
• melanocyte-stimulating hormone
• parathyroid hormone
• plant hormone
• sex hormone
• somatotropic hormone
• steroid hormone
• thyroid-stimulating hormone
• thyrotropic hormone
• thyrotropin-releasing hormone

Rhymes for hormone

• alone
• atone
• backbone
• bemoan
• bluestone
• breastbone
• brownstone
• capstone
• cheekbone
• condone
• curbstone
• cyclone

Kids Definition

hormone

noun

hor·​mone ˈhȯr-ˌmōn 

: a product of living cells that circulates in body fluids (as blood) or sap and produces a specific and often stimulating effect on cells usually at a distance from the place where it is made

Medical Definition

hormone

noun

hor·​mone ˈhȯr-ˌmōn 

1

a

: a product of living cells that circulates in body fluids (as blood) or sap and produces a specific often stimulatory effect on the activity of cells usually a distance from its point of synthesis

Some people develop insulin resistance, a condition in which response to the hormone is muted and the body must produce excess insulin to maintain healthy blood-glucose concentrations.

—Ben Harder, Science News

b

: a synthetic substance that acts like a hormone

2

: sex hormone

I discovered I had the classic signs of perimenopause, the prelude to "the change" when hormones yo-yo before menstrual periods cease altogether …

—Beth Witrogen McLeod, Cooking Light

hormonelike

-ˌlīk 

adjective