birth control pill

noun

: any of various preparations that usually contain both a progestin (such as norethindrone) and an estrogen (such as ethinyl estradiol), are taken orally especially on a daily basis, and act as contraceptives typically preventing ovulation by suppressing secretion of gonadotropins (such as luteinizing hormone)

called also oral contraceptive

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web Researchers have been trying to come up with a birth control pill for men. —

Alyssa Hui, Verywell Health, 23 Feb. 2023 One type of birth control pill, sometimes called the mini-pill, contains only the hormone progestin. —

Amanda Macmillan, Health, 11 Feb. 2023 But a new study has found a compound that may hold the key to a reversible male birth control pill. —

Sophie Bushwick, Discover Magazine, 17 Aug. 2012 The first birth control pill, Enovid, was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 1960. —

Dallas News, 1 July 2022 In 1968, researchers from the Royal College of General Practitioners began tracking approximately 46,000 women in the United Kingdom — half of whom actively used the birth control pill and half of whom had never used it. —

Jessica Brown, Discover Magazine, 16 Sep. 2021 Kolff had been on the birth control pill since 2019. —

Dallas News, 1 July 2022 Some of the most well known, like the birth control pill, work by upsetting the balance of hormones that regulate menstruation and ultimately prevent the release of a mature egg from the ovary. —

Nathaniel Scharping, Discover Magazine, 1 May 2018 Photograph: Apple Period tracking apps are popular and helpful, especially for those who aren't on a daily birth control pill that regulates their periods. —

Medea Giordano, WIRED, 27 Sep. 2022 See More

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

Word History

First Known Use

1916, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of birth control pill was in 1916

See more words from the same year

Dictionary Entries Near birth control pill

birth controller

birth control pill

birthday

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Birth control pill.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/birth%20control%20pill. Accessed 22 Mar. 2023.

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Kids Definition

birth control pill

noun

: any of various pills usually taken every day to prevent pregnancy by stopping ovulation

Medical Definition

birth control pill

noun

: any of various preparations that usually contain a combination of a progestogen (as norethindrone) and an estrogen (as ethinyl estradiol) but sometimes only a progestogen, are taken orally especially on a daily basis, and act as contraceptives typically preventing ovulation by suppressing secretion of gonadotropins (as luteinizing hormone)

called also oral contraceptive, oral contraceptive pill