spermatozoon

noun

sper·​ma·​to·​zo·​on (ˌ)spər-ˌma-tə-ˈzō-ˌän How to pronounce spermatozoon (audio)
-ˈzō-ən,
ˌspər-mə-tə-
plural spermatozoa (ˌ)spər-ˌma-tə-ˈzō-ə How to pronounce spermatozoon (audio)
ˌspər-mə-tə-
1
: a motile male gamete of an animal usually with rounded or elongate head and a long posterior flagellum
2
spermatozoal adjective

Examples of spermatozoon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Both gonads are functional and produce spermatozoa and oocyte respectively after puberty. Discover Magazine, 19 Nov. 2019 After extracting spermatozoa from several mice, the team freeze-dried the cells and sent them to the International Space Station in August 2013. National Geographic, 22 May 2017

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'spermatozoon.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

New Latin

First Known Use

circa 1839, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of spermatozoon was circa 1839

Dictionary Entries Near spermatozoon

Cite this Entry

“Spermatozoon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spermatozoon. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

spermatozoon

noun
sper·​ma·​to·​zo·​on (ˌ)spər-ˌmat-ə-ˈzō-ən How to pronounce spermatozoon (audio)
ˌspər-mət-
plural spermatozoa -ˈzō-ə How to pronounce spermatozoon (audio)

Medical Definition

spermatozoon

noun
sper·​ma·​to·​zo·​on -ˈzō-ˌän, -ˈzō-ən How to pronounce spermatozoon (audio)
plural spermatozoa -ˈzō-ə How to pronounce spermatozoon (audio)
: a motile male gamete of an animal usually with rounded or elongate head and a long posterior flagellum

More from Merriam-Webster on spermatozoon

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