plural labia
ˈlā-bē-ə 
1
: any of the folds at the margin of the vulva compare labia majora, labia minora
2
: the lower lip of a labiate corolla
3
a
: a lower mouthpart of an insect that is formed by the second pair of maxillae united in the middle line
b
: a liplike part of various invertebrates
Examples of labium in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
These lie alongside each other to form the fascicle, or syntrophium, encased in the thickened outside cover, the labium.
—
Popular Science, 20 Oct. 2020
The labium pushes up like a sleeve when the female mosquito plunges her stylets in (male mosquitoes don't bite—only the females do).
—Christie Wilcox, Discover Magazine, 9 June 2016
The change in shape is also due to the surge in blood — the labia majora may retract, and their retraction can cause the labia minora to appear larger or even show for the first time.
—Kristi Kellogg, Glamour, 29 Apr. 2019
The outer labia can also vary in terms of being barely there or a few inches long, and the inner labia (which are reminiscent of butterfly wings) might be hidden or hang past the outer lips.
—Zoe Ruderman, Cosmopolitan, 19 June 2017
And, as many pointed out, there is nothing wrong with or unnatural about having dark labia.
—refinery29.com, 7 May 2018
Most women's labia aren't perfectly symmetrical — one side is usually bigger than the other.
—Zoe Ruderman, Cosmopolitan, 19 June 2017
Now, doctors are warning anyone with a vagina to steer clear of a product that some are claiming reduces vaginal odor (or at least steer clear of applying it on their labia or in their vaginas).
—Lily Herman, Allure, 1 Nov. 2017
The vulva, the video states using diagrams (and cute cats), includes the outer labia, inner labia, clitoris, urethral opening, and vaginal opening.
—Lily Herman, Allure, 5 Oct. 2017
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Popular Science, 20 Oct. 2020
The labium pushes up like a sleeve when the female mosquito plunges her stylets in (male mosquitoes don't bite—only the females do).
—Christie Wilcox, Discover Magazine, 9 June 2016
The change in shape is also due to the surge in blood — the labia majora may retract, and their retraction can cause the labia minora to appear larger or even show for the first time.
—Kristi Kellogg, Glamour, 29 Apr. 2019
The outer labia can also vary in terms of being barely there or a few inches long, and the inner labia (which are reminiscent of butterfly wings) might be hidden or hang past the outer lips.
—Zoe Ruderman, Cosmopolitan, 19 June 2017
And, as many pointed out, there is nothing wrong with or unnatural about having dark labia.
—refinery29.com, 7 May 2018
Most women's labia aren't perfectly symmetrical — one side is usually bigger than the other.
—Zoe Ruderman, Cosmopolitan, 19 June 2017
Now, doctors are warning anyone with a vagina to steer clear of a product that some are claiming reduces vaginal odor (or at least steer clear of applying it on their labia or in their vaginas).
—Lily Herman, Allure, 1 Nov. 2017
The vulva, the video states using diagrams (and cute cats), includes the outer labia, inner labia, clitoris, urethral opening, and vaginal opening.
—Lily Herman, Allure, 5 Oct. 2017
Cite this Entry
“Labium.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/labium. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Medical Definition
labium
noun
la·bi·um
ˈlā-bē-əm
plural labia
-ə
1
: any of the folds at the margin of the vulva compare labia majora, labia minora
2
: a lower mouthpart of an insect that is formed by the second pair of maxillae united in the midline
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