semen

noun se·men \ ˈsē-mən \

Updated on: 26 Apr 2018

: 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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Recent Examples of semen from the Web

Back in the 1980s, when DNA forensic analysis was still in its infancy, crime labs needed a speck of bodily fluid—usually blood, semen, or spit—to generate a genetic profile.

— katie worth, WIRED, "Framed for Murder By His Own DNA," 19 Apr. 2018
Once sperm are lowered to a specific number per milliliter of semen, pregnancy becomes nearly impossible.

— kate morgan, The Cut, "A Brief Timeline of Scientists Promising a Birth-Control Pill for Men," 3 Apr. 2018
His wife manages his agenda and transfers his semen via syringe to the near-daily guests to their chaotic São Paulo home.

— samantha pearson, WSJ, "Demand for American Sperm Is Skyrocketing in Brazil," 22 Mar. 2018
The focus now turns to his stored semen and that of four other dead rhinos, as well as the perfection of in vitro fertilization techniques and the critical need to keep the remaining two females alive.

— Bloomberg.com, "World's Last Male Northern White Rhino Dies," 20 Mar. 2018
Monumentally weird, aggressively perverse, and not infrequently nauseating, Ballard’s most infamous novel is a raw tapestry of mucous membranes and mucilage, gristle and gore and globules of semen.

— becca rothfeld, The New Republic, "J.G. Ballard’s Eerily Accurate Dystopias," 14 Mar. 2018
The cryopreserved collection of embryos, blood, and semen is not a backup collection.

— simran sethi, Smithsonian, "Inside the Colorado Vault That Keeps Your Favorite Foods From Going Extinct," 9 Mar. 2018
About one quarter of a tablespoon of semen contains 160mg of protein and 10mg of carbs.

— anthea levi, Health.com, "Small Penis Syndrome Is a Real Medical Condition, and Other Lessons We Learned From 'The Penis Book'," 20 Feb. 2018
Of 149 patients treated with the spacer in the prospective randomized study one patient had blood in the semen, another had blood in the urine, while yet another felt pressure down in the rectum.

— dr. jared heiner, idahostatesman, "New treatment offers relief to prostate cancer patients | Idaho Statesman," 19 Feb. 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of semen

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

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First Known Use: 14th century

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SEMEN Defined for English Language Learners

semen

noun

: the sticky, whitish liquid containing sperm that is produced by a male's sex organs

Medical Dictionary

semen

noun se·men \ ˈsē-mən \

: 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)