hormone therapy

noun

: the therapeutic use of hormones: such as

a

: the administration of hormones especially to increase diminished levels in the body

especially : hormone replacement therapy

b

: therapy involving the use of drugs or surgical procedures to suppress the production of or to inhibit the effects of a hormone (such as estrogen or testosterone)

hormone therapy to treat breast or prostate cancer

c

: the administration or use of sex hormones (such as estrogen or testosterone) or other agents (such as antiandrogens) to suppress or induce the development of certain secondary sex characteristics to better align with the gender identity of a transgender or gender nonconforming individual

Many transgender people take lifelong hormone therapy …

—Carina Storrs

Examples of hormone therapy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

These findings led to a decline in prescriptions and a black box warning on hormone therapy packaging, courtesy of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). —Tabitha Britt, Flow Space, 22 Apr. 2026

During the last months of 2025, Bug met with doctors and prepared to start hormone therapy. —Karen Brown, NPR, 17 Apr. 2026

Important risk factors for developing an additional cancer later on in life include the cancer treatment the person received (chemotherapy, radiology, and/or hormone therapy) and age of initial cancer diagnosis. —Tesfaye Negussie, ABC News, 13 Apr. 2026

Restrictions on puberty-blocking drugs, hormone therapy and gender-affirming surgeries have also expanded elsewhere. —Aleksandar Furtula, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1914, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for hormone therapy

• immunotherapy
• pharmacotherapy
• physiotherapy
• radiotherapy
• brachytherapy
• chemotherapy
• cryotherapy
• hydrotherapy
• hypnotherapy
• monotherapy
• phototherapy
• psychotherapy

Medical Definition

hormone therapy

noun

variants or hormonal therapy

: the therapeutic use of hormones: as

a

: the administration of hormones especially to increase diminished levels in the body

especially : hormone replacement therapy

b

: therapy involving the use of drugs or surgical procedures to suppress the production of or inhibit the effects of a hormone (as estrogen or testosterone)

hormone therapy to treat breast or prostate cancer

c

: the administration or use of sex hormones or other agents (as antiandrogens) to suppress or induce the development of certain secondary sex characteristics to better align with the gender identity of an individual

Many transgender people take lifelong hormone therapy …

—Carina Storrs