adrenal gland

noun

variants or less commonly adrenal

plural adrenal glands also adrenals

: either of a pair of complex endocrine organs near the anterior medial border of the kidney consisting of a mesodermal cortex that produces glucocorticoid, mineralocorticoid, and androgenic hormones and an ectodermal medulla that produces epinephrine and norepinephrine

called also suprarenal gland

Examples of adrenal gland in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

About 5 percent of testosterone is produced by the adrenal glands, which sit above the kidneys. — Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 20 Aug. 2026

Specifically, when temperatures rise, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activates to help regulate core body temperature, triggering the adrenal glands to release cortisol to manage the thermal strain. — Nicole F. Roberts, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026

When someone encounters a threat, the sympathetic nervous system stimulates the adrenal glands to release the stress hormones adrenaline and cortisol. — Angela Ryan Lee, Verywell Health, 11 June 2026

Mendivil underwent extensive chemotherapy and radiation treatments, and surgeons removed her right kidney and right adrenal gland in an effort to save her life. — Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 11 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1875, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for adrenal gland

• analysand
• misunderstand
• ampersand
• beforehand
• behindhand
• bottomland
• contraband
• countermand
• dixieland
• fairyland
• fatherland
• firebrand

Kids Definition

adrenal gland

noun

: either of a pair of endocrine glands that are located near the kidney and produce the hormone epinephrine

Medical Definition

adrenal gland

noun

: either of a pair of complex endocrine organs near the anterior medial border of the kidney consisting of a mesodermal cortex that produces glucocorticoid, mineralocorticoid, and androgenic hormones and an ectodermal medulla that produces epinephrine and norepinephrine

called also adrenal, suprarenal gland