pheromone: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1technical/scientific, occasionally journalistic
Quick answer
What does “pheromone” mean?
A chemical substance produced and released into the environment by an animal, especially an insect or mammal, affecting the behavior or physiology of others of its species.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A chemical substance produced and released into the environment by an animal, especially an insect or mammal, affecting the behavior or physiology of others of its species.
In human contexts, sometimes used metaphorically to refer to subtle chemical or behavioral signals that influence social or sexual attraction, though scientifically human pheromones are not definitively proven.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Spelling is identical.
Connotations
Identical technical connotations. In popular science writing, may be used more loosely in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in general discourse, equally standard in scientific contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “pheromone” in a Sentence
The [insect] releases/prouces/secrets pheromones.Pheromones attract/alert/guide [organisms].[Organisms] are sensitive to/detect/respond to pheromones.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “pheromone” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The research aimed to pheromone-tag the population for tracking.
American English
- Farmers pheromone-treat crops to disrupt pest mating.
adverb
British English
- The moths communicated pheromonally.
American English
- The ants interacted pheromonally to coordinate.
adjective
British English
- The pheromonal signal was faint but detectable.
American English
- They studied the insect's pheromonal communication system.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in marketing slang ('marketing pheromones' for irresistible appeals).
Academic
Common in biology, zoology, entomology, and behavioral science papers.
Everyday
Very rare. May appear in popular science articles about attraction or animal behavior.
Technical
Standard, precise term in entomology, animal behavior, and some branches of chemistry.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “pheromone”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “pheromone”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “pheromone”
- Using it as a fancy synonym for 'perfume' or 'cologne'.
- Assuming humans have proven, functional pheromones like insects.
- Pronouncing it as /fɪˈrɒm.əʊn/ (incorrect stress).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Pheromones are a specific type of chemical signal that triggers a specific behavioral or physiological response in members of the same species. Many are odorless to humans.
While humans produce many chemicals that may influence others, conclusive evidence for true, innate human pheromones (like in insects) is still lacking. The term is often used loosely in popular culture.
You can buy synthetic versions of insect pheromones for pest control (e.g., in traps). Products marketed as human 'pheromone perfumes' are not scientifically proven to work as claimed.
Hormones are internal chemical messengers within an organism (e.g., in the bloodstream). Pheromones are external chemical messengers released into the environment to communicate with other individuals of the same species.
A chemical substance produced and released into the environment by an animal, especially an insect or mammal, affecting the behavior or physiology of others of its species.
Pheromone is usually technical/scientific, occasionally journalistic in register.
Pheromone: in British English it is pronounced /ˈfer.ə.məʊn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈfer.ə.moʊn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Pheromone trail (a path marked by pheromones)”
- “Pheromone cloud (a concentration in the air)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'PHERO-mone' sounds like 'carry' (from Greek *pherein*) + 'hormone'. It's a chemical 'carried' through the air to trigger a response.
Conceptual Metaphor
CHEMICAL MESSENGER, INVISIBLE SIGNAL, BEHAVIORAL TRIGGER.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary characteristic of a pheromone?