plural sperm or sperms
1
a
: semen
b
: a male gamete
especially
: spermatozoon sense 1
2
: a product of the sperm whale
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
John Otis, New York Times, 3 Apr. 2024
The mother then confirmed they had been conceived with donor sperm.
—Amy Dickinson, The Mercury News, 25 Mar. 2024
Intrauterine devices, or IUDs, are a long-term, reversible form of birth control that lessens the ability of sperm to reach and fertilize an egg.
—Hannah Yasharoff, USA TODAY, 7 Mar. 2024
In fact, some aren't friendly at all and may even damage sperm.
—Nicole Harris, Parents, 2 Mar. 2024
Levin’s team has performed research in mice for a new potential option: an experimental compound that can stop sperm in its tracks.
—Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 22 Mar. 2024
The size of this whale was average for a sperm, as the massive mammals usually weigh between 35 to 45 tons and measure anywhere from 49 to 59 feet long.
—Charlotte Phillipp, Peoplemag, 11 Mar. 2024
Even if Jenny lived long enough, cystic fibrosis often causes fertility issues—in many women, thickened cervical mucus is thought to prevent pregnancy, and in almost all men, sperm ducts never develop because of blockages that occur in utero.
—Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 7 Mar. 2024
One of them, mixed with her husband’s sperm, formed a healthy embryo that was transferred to her body.
—Laura Vozzella, Washington Post, 6 Mar. 2024
Noun
Others want to get to know a donor before accepting his sperm.
—John Otis, New York Times, 3 Apr. 2024
The mother then confirmed they had been conceived with donor sperm.
—Amy Dickinson, The Mercury News, 25 Mar. 2024
Intrauterine devices, or IUDs, are a long-term, reversible form of birth control that lessens the ability of sperm to reach and fertilize an egg.
—Hannah Yasharoff, USA TODAY, 7 Mar. 2024
In fact, some aren't friendly at all and may even damage sperm.
—Nicole Harris, Parents, 2 Mar. 2024
Levin’s team has performed research in mice for a new potential option: an experimental compound that can stop sperm in its tracks.
—Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 22 Mar. 2024
The size of this whale was average for a sperm, as the massive mammals usually weigh between 35 to 45 tons and measure anywhere from 49 to 59 feet long.
—Charlotte Phillipp, Peoplemag, 11 Mar. 2024
Even if Jenny lived long enough, cystic fibrosis often causes fertility issues—in many women, thickened cervical mucus is thought to prevent pregnancy, and in almost all men, sperm ducts never develop because of blockages that occur in utero.
—Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 7 Mar. 2024
One of them, mixed with her husband’s sperm, formed a healthy embryo that was transferred to her body.
—Laura Vozzella, Washington Post, 6 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sperm.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near sperm
Cite this Entry
“Sperm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sperm. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Medical Definition
sperm
noun
plural sperm or sperms
1
: the male impregnating fluid : semen
2
: a male gamete
especially
: spermatozoon
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