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

Cortisol is a steroid hormone secreted by the adrenal glands and acts as a key regulator of metabolism. — Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 15 Oct. 2026

Cortisol is a steroid hormone secreted by the adrenal glands. — Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 15 Oct. 2026

Cibele, a digital marketer, was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer that originated in her adrenal gland in 2024. — Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 26 Sep. 2026

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