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.
Other signs are pain during ejaculation or a decrease in the amount of semen. Julie Scott, People.com, 8 July 2025 Honig said doctors tend to get concerned when sperm counts fall below 15 million sperm per milliliter of semen, or less than 31% of sperm being mobile. Aria Bendix, NBC news, 3 July 2025 Researchers at the fertility center analyzed the semen sample with the AI system. Jacqueline Howard, CNN Money, 3 July 2025 Recently, researchers modified male mosquitoes to secrete toxic proteins in their semen, to kill female mosquitoes after mating. Jay Kakade june 16, New Atlas, 16 June 2025 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

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Cite this Entry

“Semen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/semen. Accessed 15 Jul. 2025.

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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