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

That gives Alvarado's team here on San Andrés just a tiny window of opportunity to dive down and collect coral eggs and sperm. —John Otis, NPR, 5 Oct. 2025

In addition to her, around six other IDF widows are pursuing parenthood using sperm retrieved from their deceased husbands. —Amelie Botbol, FOXNews.com, 5 Oct. 2025

Traditionally, scientists have believed that telomere length is either a polygenic trait, controlled by multiple genes, or is passed directly to the offspring through parental sperm and egg cells. —New Atlas, 2 Oct. 2025

This step is critical, since fertilization requires an egg with 23 chromosomes to combine with sperm carrying another 23. —Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025

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