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

Brahmbhatt, who is also an assistant professor at the University of Central Florida’s College of Medicine, also referenced a large Harvard University study that showed men who wore boxers had higher sperm concentration than those who wore formfitting styles. —Lily Hautau, CNN Money, 9 Apr. 2026

Scientists have found that sperm in space can’t find their direction during their pursuit to fertilize an egg. —Devika Rao, TheWeek, 9 Apr. 2026

The two-time Grammy winner and her former partner, Julie Cypher, conceived Beckett and his older sister Bailey via sperm donated from music legend David Crosby — a revelation that earned the cover of Rolling Stone in February 2000. —Kathleen Perricone, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Apr. 2026

But the organ that senses those hormones is usually separate from the one that delivers the sperm; in male octopuses, the hectocotylus does both. —Cody Cottier, Scientific American, 2 Apr. 2026

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

Rhymes for sperm

• berm
• ferm
• firm
• germ
• herm
• squirm
• term
• therm
• worm
• wurm
• affirm
• bookworm

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