vaginal

adjective

vag·​i·​nal ˈva-jə-nᵊl How to pronounce vaginal (audio)
1
: of, relating to, or affecting the genital vagina
2
: of or relating to a theca
vaginally adverb

Examples of vaginal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Hormone replacement medications are prescribed to treat hot flashes, mood swings, urinary tract infections, vaginal dryness and difficulty sleeping, as well as to protect against bone fractures. Kaitlin Sullivan, NBC news, 10 May 2026 This approach usually uses estrogen alone or in combination with progesterone to stabilize hormone levels and reduce symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats and vaginal dryness. Daryl Austin, USA Today, 9 May 2026 The authors assert that only hot flashes and vaginal dryness are genuinely associated with menopause, citing a 1970s NIH consensus conference that predates decades of neuroimaging and cardiovascular research — an outdated position. Torie Bosch, STAT, 2 May 2026 She was transported to a hospital, and vaginal swabs were collected for DNA evidence. Charlotte Observer, 29 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for vaginal

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin vaginalis, from vagina "sheath, vagina" + Latin -ālis -al entry 1

First Known Use

1653, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of vaginal was in 1653

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Vaginal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vaginal. Accessed 13 May. 2026.

Medical Definition

vaginal

1 of 2 adjective
va·​gi·​nal
ˈvaj-ən-ᵊl, sometimes və-ˈjī-nᵊl
1
: of, relating to, or resembling a vagina : thecal
a vaginal synovial membrane surrounding a tendon
2
a
: of, relating to, or affecting the genital vagina
vaginal discharge
vaginal infection
b
: occurring through the birth canal
a vaginal delivery
a vaginal birth
vaginally adverb

vaginal

2 of 2 noun
: a vaginal anatomical part (as a muscle)

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