sperm

1 of 2

noun

ˈspərm 

plural sperm or sperms

1

a

: semen

b

: a male gamete

especially : spermatozoon sense 1

2

: a product of the sperm whale

sperm-

2 of 2

combining form

variants or spermo- or sperma- or spermi-

: seed : germ : sperm

spermatheca

spermicide

Examples of sperm in a Sentence

Noun

The sperm fertilizes the egg.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Flashback: Five years ago, the aquarium was part of a coral cross-breeding effort in which elkhorn corals from the Caribbean island of Curaçao were fertilized using coral sperm from Florida. —Kathryn Varn, Axios, 12 July 2024

The New York Times reported the Tesla CEO has also volunteered his own sperm to help seed the colony. —Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 11 July 2024

In a boy, the hormones trigger the testicles to make testosterone and sperm. —Carrie Madormo, Rn, Mph, Verywell Health, 9 July 2024

One guess was one of the five sharks in her tank, while another was through parthenogenesis, a rare method of asexual reproduction in which a female can produce an embryo without fertilizing an egg with sperm. —Jeff A. Chamer, Charlotte Observer, 1 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Middle French esperme, sperme, from Late Latin spermat-, sperma, from Greek, literally, seed, from speirein to sow; probably akin to Armenian p'aratem I dispense

Combining form

Greek sperm-, spermo-, from sperma

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing sperm

• sperm bank
• sperm cell
• sperm count
• sperm donor
• sperm nucleus
• sperm oil
• sperm whale

Kids Definition

sperm

noun

ˈspərm 

plural sperm or sperms

1

: semen

2

: a mobile male gamete that has a long and thin or rounded head and a long thin tail that acts as a flagellum

called also spermatozoon, sperm cell

Medical Definition

sperm

noun

ˈspərm 

plural sperm or sperms

1

: the male impregnating fluid : semen

2

: a male gamete

especially : spermatozoon