spermatheca
noun
sper·ma·the·ca
ˌspər-mə-ˈthē-kə 
plural spermathecae
ˌspər-mə-ˈthē-ˌsē. -ˌkē
: a sac for sperm storage in the female reproductive tract of some animals (such as mollusks and frogs) and especially insects
Examples of spermatheca in a Sentence
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Unlike mammals, a female spider has a sac in its reproductive tract called the spermatheca that holds sperm and prevents it from meeting an egg.
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Megan Marples, CNN, 26 Apr. 2022
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Megan Marples, CNN, 26 Apr. 2022
Cite this Entry
“Spermatheca.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spermatheca. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
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