pheromone

noun

pher·o·mone ˈfer-ə-ˌmōn

: a chemical substance that is usually produced by an animal and serves especially as a stimulus to other individuals of the same species for one or more behavioral responses

pheromonal

ˌfer-ə-ˈmō-nᵊl

adjective

Examples of pheromone in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Beyond that, Stanger is owner and creator of the best-selling pheromone fragrance Eye of Love Matchmaker, Tyku sake, PS Match wines and is the owner and CEO of MillionairesClub123.com. —

Joe Otterson, Variety, 23 Aug. 2023 Yes, there are natural alternatives such as aromatherapy, pheromone diffusers, and certain herbs like chamomile or lavender that may help calm your dog. —

Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 5 Aug. 2023 Patterson’s theory was that something was interfering with the bees’ pheromones in the hive, their Nestduftwärmebindung. —

Sam Knight, The New Yorker, 21 Aug. 2023 Some supplements contain dog-appeasing pheromones or utilize pressure vests to further enhance their calming effects. —

Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 5 Aug. 2023 Earlier studies have suggested that bees rely on multiple parts of their brain to coordinate in response to one single pheromone. —

Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 14 June 2023 Based on the available evidence, here are some key takeaways: Calming collars infused with dog appeasing pheromones can effectively reduce anxiety levels in dogs. —

Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 5 Aug. 2023 Place pheromone traps in apple trees to detect presence of codling moth. —

oregonlive, 1 May 2022 This spray is designed to mimic pheromones produced by mother dogs to calm and reassure their puppies, promoting a sense of safety and security. —

Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 3 July 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pheromone.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Greek phérein "to carry" + -o- + -mone (in hormone) — more at bear entry 2

Note: Name introduced by the German biochemist Peter Karlson (1918-2001) and the Swiss entomologist Martin Lüscher (1917-79) in "'Pheromones': a New Term for a Class of Biologically Active Substances," Nature, vol. 183, no. 4653 (January 3, 1959), pp. 55-56: "We propose, therefore, the designation 'pheromone' for this group of active substances. The name is derived from the Greek pherein, to transfer; hormōn, to excite. Pheromones are defined as substances which are secreted to the outside by an individual and received by a second individual of the same species, in which they release a specific reaction, for example, a definite behaviour or a developmental process."

First Known Use

1959, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of pheromone was in 1959

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Pheromone.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pheromone. Accessed 27 Sep. 2023.

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Kids Definition

pheromone

noun

pher·o·mone ˈfer-ə-ˌmōn

: a chemical substance (as a scent) that is produced by an animal and serves as a signal to other individuals of the same species to engage in some kind of behavior (as mating)

Medical Definition

pheromone

noun

pher·o·mone ˈfer-ə-ˌmōn

: a chemical substance that is produced by an animal and serves especially as a stimulus to other individuals of the same species for one or more behavioral responses

called also ectohormone