menopause

men·o·pause | \ ˈme-nə-ˌpȯz

, ˈmē- \

Definition of menopause

1 : the natural cessation of menstruation that usually occurs between the ages of 45 and 55 also : the period during which such cessation occurs

— called also climacteric

— compare perimenopause

2 : cessation of menstruation from other than natural causes

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Examples of menopause in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Following the menstrual example, the menopause is now undergoing its own cultural rebranding. — Carolyn Wells, Longreads, "Making Periods Green To Topple Tampax," 27 Feb. 2020 Secondary hyperhidrosis causes include medical conditions such as diabetes or menopause. — Rachel Grumman Bender, SELF, "When Sweaty Hands and Feet Are Actually Hyperhidrosis," 24 Feb. 2020 Steinke compares menopause to a religious conversion, a witch’s spell and the Incredible Hulk. — Amanda Hess, New York Times, "The Wild Woman Awakens," 17 Dec. 2019 Use ingestible birth control, which renders male rats infertile and causes females to reach menopause more quickly. — Colin Campbell, baltimoresun.com, "PETA billboard in Baltimore calls Jared Kushner ‘rich pest,' urges humane rat control," 19 Aug. 2019 Kwatra also reminded senators that many women need birth control for reasons unrelated to pregnancy prevention, from acne and endometriosis to early menopause. — Maria Polletta, azcentral, "Arizona women could soon get birth control medication without a prescription," 12 Feb. 2020 Those were the women who went through menopause—not new moms like me. — Marisa Mazria Katz, Glamour, "‘I’m 40. And Apparently Going Through Menopause’," 24 Jan. 2020 Orcas are among only a small number of mammals known to go through menopause. — Eric Cheung, CNN, "Grandmother killer whales boost calves' survival, study finds," 10 Dec. 2019 Reproductive history: Women whose menstrual periods began before age 12 or those who didn't start menopause until after age 55 are exposed to hormones longer, which raises their risk. — Kristen Jordan Shamus, Detroit Free Press, "Answers to your questions about breast cancer screening: Is a 3D mammogram better?," 4 Nov. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'menopause.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

9 Mar 2020

Cite this Entry

“Menopause.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/menopause. Accessed 5 Apr. 2020.

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More Definitions for menopause

menopause

noun

English Language Learners Definition of menopause

: the time in a woman's life when blood stops flowing from her body each month : the time when a woman stops menstruating

See the full definition for menopause in the English Language Learners Dictionary

menopause

noun

meno·pause | \ ˈmen-ə-ˌpȯz

, ˈmēn-

Medical Definition of menopause

1a(1) : the natural cessation of menstruation occurring usually between the ages of 45 and 55 … osteoporosis, which increases the risk of hip and spine fractures, is a well-known consequence of menopause.— Daniel D. Federman, The New England Journal of Medicine, 6 Apr. 2006

(2) : the physiological period in the life of a woman in which such cessation and the accompanying regression of ovarian function occurs Hot flashes plague many women undergoing menopause …— K. A. Fackelmann, Science News, 13 Oct. 1990

— called also climacteric, climax

— compare perimenopause

b : cessation of menstruation from other than natural causes (as from surgical removal of the ovaries) Premature menopause due to surgery or ovarian failure …— Mary Duenwald, O: The Oprah Magazine, February 2009

2 : andropause