adrenal

1 of 2

noun

ad·​re·​nal ə-ˈdrē-nᵊl 

: adrenal gland

adrenal

2 of 2

adjective

: of, relating to, or derived from the adrenal glands or their secretions

adrenal steroids

Examples of adrenal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The hypothalamus then sends a chemical S.O.S. to the adrenals, prompting them to dump cortisol and adrenaline into the bloodstream. —Julia Daye, Popular Science, 3 Dec. 2025

At first, my adrenals were going, my nervous system was really activated. —Jennifer Maas, Variety, 1 Oct. 2025

Adjective

Some creators go even deeper down the rabbit hole, suggesting that a puffy face is a telltale sign of an autoimmune or hormonal disorder like adrenal dysfunction, polycystic ovary syndrome, or Hashimoto’s disease. —Georgia Casey, Allure, 6 Feb. 2026

People with renal dysfunction, heart failure, liver disease, and adrenal disorders should not use them unless recommended by their doctor. —Kathleen Ferraro, Verywell Health, 5 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

derivative of adrenal entry 2

Adjective

ad- + (supra)renal entry 1 (describing the location of the gland)

First Known Use

Noun

1863, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1863, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing adrenal

• adrenal gland
• congenital adrenal hyperplasia

Rhymes for adrenal

• alkenyl
• cerebrospinal
• corticospinal
• duodenal
• intrarenal
• intraspinal
• suprarenal
• gastroduodenal
• genal
• penal
• phenyl
• renal

Kids Definition

adrenal

1 of 2 adjective

ad·​re·​nal ə-ˈdrē-nᵊl 

: of, relating to, or derived from the adrenal glands or their secretions

adrenal

2 of 2 noun

: adrenal gland

Medical Definition

adrenal

1 of 2 adjective

ad·​re·​nal ə-ˈdrēn-ᵊl 

: of, relating to, or derived from the adrenal glands or their secretion

adrenally

-ᵊl-ē 

adverb

adrenal

2 of 2 noun

: adrenal gland