speculum

noun

spec·​u·​lum ˈspe-kyə-ləm 

plural specula ˈspe-kyə-lə  also speculums

1

: an instrument inserted into a body passage especially to facilitate visual inspection or medication

2

: a drawing or table showing the relative positions of all the planets (as in an astrological nativity)

3

: a patch of color on the secondaries of most ducks and some other birds

Examples of speculum in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The speculum in particular is increasingly viewed as an oppressive instrument, due to its sharp edges, rigid materials, and poor ergonomics; its inventor, Dr. J. Marion Sims, was also known to conduct brutal surgeries on women without anesthesia. —Zen Bahar, Architectural Digest, 25 Jan. 2026

Pap smears, on the other hand, use a metal or plastic device called a speculum to widen the vaginal canal so a clinician can swab the cervix for cells. —Aria Bendix, NBC news, 5 Jan. 2026

Today, women typically see a provider to receive a speculum test for the human papillomavirus (HPV) responsible for cervical cancer. —Alexa Mikhail, Flow Space, 8 Dec. 2025

This isn’t a facsimile of a woman’s wandering mind seen through a speculum by a man, but a deep recounting. —Jane Alison june 17, Literary Hub, 17 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin, mirror, from specere

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

speculum

noun

spec·​u·​lum ˈspek-yə-ləm 

plural specula -lə  also speculums

: an instrument that is inserted into a bodily passage in order to help in inspection or the giving of medicine

Medical Definition

speculum

noun

spec·​u·​lum ˈspek-yə-ləm 

plural specula -lə  also speculums

: any of various instruments for insertion into a body passage to facilitate visual inspection or medication

a vaginal speculum