semen

noun

se·​men ˈsē-mən How to pronounce semen (audio)
: a viscid whitish fluid of the male reproductive tract consisting of spermatozoa suspended in secretions of accessory glands (as of the prostate and Cowper's glands)

Examples of semen in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Federal agents later recovered semen from the victim’s prison jumpsuit, and after obtaining a search warrant, determined that the two samples matched, officials said. Leonard Greene, New York Daily News, 18 Mar. 2026 Detectives found semen on Montaño's shirt, and DNA tests identified Drinkhouse as a hit, according to the records, which also said Drinkhouse's DNA was on the orange vest. Stacey Barchenger, AZCentral.com, 12 Mar. 2026 Robles said his approach begins with an evaluation, semen analysis, hormonal testing and medical history, while also exploring lifestyle factors. Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 11 Mar. 2026 Besides, the typical symptoms of a semen allergy—vaginal burning, itching, irritation—can be caused by a range of factors (a UTI, yeast infection, or bacterial vaginosis, to name a few), so those are hardly reliable indicators, either. Caroline Tien, SELF, 6 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for semen

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin, seed, semen; akin to Old High German sāmo seed, Latin serere to sow — more at sow

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of semen was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Semen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/semen. Accessed 31 Mar. 2026.

Kids Definition

semen

noun
se·​men ˈsē-mən How to pronounce semen (audio)
: a sticky whitish fluid of the male reproductive tract that contains the sperm

Medical Definition

semen

noun
se·​men ˈsē-mən How to pronounce semen (audio)
: a viscid whitish fluid of the male reproductive tract consisting of spermatozoa suspended in secretions of accessory glands (as of the prostate and Cowper's glands)

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