1
: of, relating to, or characteristic of estrus
2
: being in heat
Examples of estrous in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Every fall, a handful of does come into estrous about a month before the main event, and the chaos these early-cycling deer create is pretty significant.
—
Scott Bestul,
Field & Stream,
6 Sep. 2023
That male was part of a group of four males who were harassing an estrous female, when out of nowhere, her three coalition partners came swooping in to her aid.
—
David P. Barash,
WSJ,
17 May 2022
By contrast, participants using contraceptive pills showed no estrous earnings peak.
—
Discover Magazine,
19 Nov. 2019
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Scott Bestul,
Field & Stream,
6 Sep. 2023
That male was part of a group of four males who were harassing an estrous female, when out of nowhere, her three coalition partners came swooping in to her aid.
—
David P. Barash,
WSJ,
17 May 2022
By contrast, participants using contraceptive pills showed no estrous earnings peak.
—
Discover Magazine,
19 Nov. 2019
Cite this Entry
“Estrous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/estrous. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
