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

Place pheromone traps around your closet to capture any lingering moths. —Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 31 Oct. 2025

Synthetic pheromones may help hives In field trials, the researchers tested whether adding synthetic pheromone blends could calm the colonies. —Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 27 Oct. 2025

By tracking seasonal patterns, gardeners can better time interventions such as applying beneficial nematodes or setting pheromone traps for wasps. —Alice Cason, Mercury News, 20 Oct. 2025

Those pheromones are very therapeutic for the human brain. —Bill Hoogterp, Fortune, 19 Oct. 2025

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

Rhymes for pheromone

• acetone
• anglophone
• baritone
• bourguignon
• buspirone
• chaperon
• chaperone
• cobblestone
• collarbone
• cornerstone
• cortisone
• dictaphone

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