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

Plants and animals keenly sense the diminishing light, which acts as a master biological clock that triggers changes such as migration, shifting hormone levels and winter coat growth. — Charles Seabrook, AJC.com, 1 Aug. 2026

Peter begins to develop new abilities thanks to a spike in arachnid hormones. — Eliana Dockterman, Time, 31 July 2026

The Executive Risk Of Inevitability Aging, slower recovery, shifting hormone levels, and the gradual loss of muscle and bone density will naturally happen by default unless an intervention takes place. — Julian Hayes Ii, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026

The lengthened lifespan effect is likely related to a hormone called FGF21, the researchers believe. — Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 31 July 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

• 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