hormone

noun

hor·​mone ˈhȯr-ˌmōn 

1

: a product of living cells that circulates in body fluids (such as blood) or sap and produces a specific often stimulatory effect on the activity of cells usually remote from its point of origin

also : a synthetic substance that acts like a hormone

2

: sex hormone

hormonelike

ˈhȯr-ˌmōn-ˌlīk 

adjective

Examples of hormone in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Your body’s stress hormone peaks naturally about an hour after waking, and layering caffeine on top amplifies the spike. — Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 15 Oct. 2026

For some women, treatment may involve surgery, radiation, chemotherapy or hormone-blocking medications to reduce the chance of cancer returning. — ABC News, 15 Oct. 2026

Cortisol, the stress hormone, rises naturally after waking and peaks about an hour later. — Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 15 Oct. 2026

For stage 1 and 2, the prognosis, particularly with hormone receptor positive breast cancer, is very optimistic. — Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 15 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Greek hormōn, present participle of horman to stir up, from hormē impulse, assault; akin to Greek ornynai to rouse — more at rise

First Known Use

1905, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing hormone

• adrenocorticotrophic hormone
• adrenocorticotropic hormone
• antidiuretic hormone
• brain hormone
• follicle-stimulating hormone
• gonadotropin-releasing hormone
• growth hormone
• hormone replacement therapy
• hormone therapy
• human growth hormone
• juvenile hormone
• luteinizing hormone
• luteinizing hormone-releasing factor
• luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone
• luteotrophic hormone
• luteotropic hormone
• melanocyte-stimulating hormone
• parathyroid hormone
• plant hormone
• sex hormone
• somatotropic hormone
• steroid hormone
• thyroid-stimulating hormone
• thyrotropic hormone
• thyrotropin-releasing hormone

Rhymes for hormone

• alone
• atone
• backbone
• bemoan
• bluestone
• breastbone
• brownstone
• capstone
• cheekbone
• condone
• curbstone
• cyclone

Kids Definition

hormone

noun

hor·​mone ˈhȯr-ˌmōn 

: a product of living cells that circulates in body fluids (as blood) or sap and produces a specific and often stimulating effect on cells usually at a distance from the place where it is made

Medical Definition

hormone

noun

hor·​mone ˈhȯr-ˌmōn 

1

a

: a product of living cells that circulates in body fluids (as blood) or sap and produces a specific often stimulatory effect on the activity of cells usually a distance from its point of synthesis

Some people develop insulin resistance, a condition in which response to the hormone is muted and the body must produce excess insulin to maintain healthy blood-glucose concentrations.

—Ben Harder, Science News

b

: a synthetic substance that acts like a hormone

2

: sex hormone

I discovered I had the classic signs of perimenopause, the prelude to "the change" when hormones yo-yo before menstrual periods cease altogether …

—Beth Witrogen McLeod, Cooking Light

hormonelike

-ˌlīk 

adjective