androgen

noun an·dro·gen \ ˈan-drə-jən \

|Updated on: 15 Jul 2018

Definition of androgen

: a male sex hormone (such as testosterone)

—

androgenic

play \ˌan-drə-ˈje-nik\ adjective

See androgen defined for kids

Recent Examples of androgen from the Web

Spironolactone stops hair shedding by inhibiting the effects of androgens (like testosterone) that combine with a particular enzyme to create a hormone that causes hair loss, explains study author Rodney Sinclair, a dermatologist in Australia.

— jesa marie calaor, Allure, "Lab Report: Using Spironolactone and Minoxidil Could Promote Hair Regrowth for Women," 28 Apr. 2018
Such women do, however, have high levels of androgens.

— claudia wallis, Scientific American, "The Belly Fat Battle," 1 May 2018
In the studies, two-thirds of the men took one of the androgen receptor inhibitors, while a third took a placebo.

— pam belluck, New York Times, "Two Prostate Cancer Drugs Delay Spread of the Disease by Two Years," 8 Feb. 2018
Stress triggers the production of androgens — a hormone proven to increase oil production, which leads to clogged pores, says Dr. Brandt.

— krista bennett demaio, Cosmopolitan, "9 Beauty Fails That Mess With Your Skin (and How to Fix Them)," 2 Jan. 2015
So testosterone levels in the bloodstream are low, but the androgen prevents [men] from feeling the effects of low testosterone.

— kate morgan, The Cut, "A Brief Timeline of Scientists Promising a Birth-Control Pill for Men," 3 Apr. 2018
The substance used in the study, DMAU, has properties similar to both androgens, such as testosterone, and progestins, such as progesterone.

— mark lieber, CNN, "Male birth control pill one step closer to reality, researchers say," 20 Mar. 2018
Men are born with a combination of male and female hormones, yet androgens such as testosterone that control male traits like muscle mass and body hair far outweigh traces of female estrogen that dictate the size of breasts.

— eric pianin, Washington Post, "Why some men are asking for breast-reduction surgery," 6 Mar. 2018
For those struggling with breakouts that don't respond to topical treatments, dermatologists might prescribe an oral contraceptive, which works by regulating your body's androgen levels, a hormone that can lead to excess sebum production.

— karina hoshikawa, Teen Vogue, "How Riverdale Actress Ashleigh Murray Deals With Her Cystic Acne," 26 Feb. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'androgen.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.