adrenal

1 of 2

noun

ad·​re·​nal ə-ˈdrē-nᵊl 

: adrenal gland

adrenal

2 of 2

adjective

: of, relating to, or derived from the adrenal glands or their secretions

adrenal steroids

Examples of adrenal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Your adrenals in response will release hormones, such as adrenaline, which can stimulate your heart to beat faster and your blood pressure to increase, and cortisol, which can increase the amount of sugar in your bloodstream and your brain’s utilization of that glucose. —Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 9 May 2025

These are reasons to go in and talk with your family doctor and do any lab work to see if anything is happening with your adrenals. —Dominique Fluker, Essence, 11 Aug. 2023

Adjective

Anxiety Relief and Depression Magnesium regulates the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis (HPAA), which is involved in the body’s stress response. —Amy Brownstein, Ms, Rdn, Verywell Health, 13 Jan. 2025

Cardwell died at age 28 in December 2023 after she was diagnosed with stage 4 adrenal carcinoma the previous January. —Elissa Rosen, People.com, 12 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

derivative of adrenal entry 2

Adjective

ad- + (supra)renal entry 1 (describing the location of the gland)

First Known Use

Noun

1863, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1863, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing adrenal

• adrenal gland
• congenital adrenal hyperplasia

Rhymes for adrenal

• alkenyl
• cerebrospinal
• corticospinal
• duodenal
• intrarenal
• intraspinal
• suprarenal
• gastroduodenal
• genal
• penal
• phenyl
• renal

Kids Definition

adrenal

1 of 2 adjective

ad·​re·​nal ə-ˈdrē-nᵊl 

: of, relating to, or derived from the adrenal glands or their secretions

adrenal

2 of 2 noun

: adrenal gland

Medical Definition

adrenal

1 of 2 adjective

ad·​re·​nal ə-ˈdrēn-ᵊl 

: of, relating to, or derived from the adrenal glands or their secretion

adrenally

-ᵊl-ē 

adverb

adrenal

2 of 2 noun

: adrenal gland