SINCE 1828
estrogen
noun
es·tro·gen
| \ ˈe-strə-jən
\
\
Definition of estrogen
: any of various natural steroids (such as estradiol) that are formed from androgen precursors, that are secreted chiefly by the ovaries, placenta, adipose tissue, and testes, and that stimulate the development of female secondary sex characteristics and promote the growth and maintenance of the female reproductive system
also
: any of various synthetic or semisynthetic steroids (such as ethinyl estradiol) that mimic the physiological effect of natural estrogens
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Examples of estrogen in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
This is due to the aforementioned excess estrogen this cancer can create. — Korin Miller, SELF, "The Three Types of Ovarian Cancer You Should Know," 1 Nov. 2018 Low estrogen levels after menopause can lead to GSM, which comes with its own slew of bothersome symptoms, like vaginal dryness, itching, dyspareunia, urinary urgency and increased frequency, and urinary tract infections. — Lindsay Carlton, Fox News, "Actress Cheryl Hines on the awkwardness of menopause," 28 Sep. 2018 Affecting up to 90 percent of women (due to estrogen and genetics), cellulite occurs when fat cells swell and push through the tight, fibrous tissue bands (or septa) walling them in, creating a dimpled or lumpy appearance. — Allure, "The Skin-Care Glossary: A Comprehensive Guide to Everything You Need to Know," 17 Aug. 2018 These produced testosterone, which her body then converted to estrogen. — Asher Fogle, Good Housekeeping, "Falling in Between: Inside the Lives of Intersex Women," 21 Oct. 2016 The placenta also produces estrogen, which increases during pregnancy and seems to contribute to morning sickness, Dr. Greves says. — Korin Miller, SELF, "Is It True That Morning Sickness Means Something Good During Pregnancy?," 10 Jan. 2019 In addition to regulating your menstrual cycle, estrogen helps to promote vaginal lubrication, the Mayo Clinic says. — Rachel Jacoby Zoldan, SELF, "14 Benefits of Female Masturbation and Why Every Woman Should Do It," 31 Dec. 2018 That's because losing a lot of weight can decrease estrogen production — to the point of making your periods lighter or nonexistent. — Caroline Picard, Good Housekeeping, "8 Reasons for a Late Period Besides Pregnancy, According to an OB/GYN," 30 Nov. 2018 Xenoestrogens, by definition, mimic natural estrogen; numerous studies have shown a link between exposure to xenoestrogens and decreased reproductive function in both men and women. — Tehrene Firman, Redbook, "How to Get Pregnant," 10 Aug. 2017These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'estrogen.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for estrogen
estrogen
noun
English Language Learners Definition of estrogen
medical
: a substance (called a hormone) that occurs naturally in women
See the full definition for estrogen in the English Language Learners Dictionary
estrogen
noun
es·tro·gen
| \ ˈes-trə-jən
\
\
variants:
or chiefly British oestrogen \ ˈē-strə-jən
\
\
Medical Definition of estrogen
: any of various natural steroids (as estradiol) that are formed from androgen precursors, that are secreted chiefly by the ovaries, placenta, adipose tissue, and testes, and that stimulate the development of female secondary sex characteristics and promote the growth and maintenance of the female reproductive system
also
: any of various synthetic or semisynthetic steroids (as ethinyl estradiol) that mimic the physiological effect of natural estrogens
Other Words from estrogen
estrogen-like
or estrogenlike \ -ˌlīk
\
adjective
\
adjective
an estrogen-like compound
estrogen-like effects
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