sex hormone: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Technical, Formal, Scientific, Medical, Academic
Quick answer
What does “sex hormone” mean?
A hormone, such as oestrogen or testosterone, that is primarily responsible for the development and regulation of sexual characteristics and reproductive functions.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A hormone, such as oestrogen or testosterone, that is primarily responsible for the development and regulation of sexual characteristics and reproductive functions.
A chemical messenger produced in the gonads or adrenal cortex, which influences the development of secondary sexual characteristics, libido, fertility, and numerous other physiological processes beyond reproduction, including bone density, muscle mass, and mood regulation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling differences are minor but follow standard UK-US conventions for the component words (e.g., 'oestrogen' (UK) vs. 'estrogen' (US)). The term 'sex hormone' is structurally identical in both variants and no significant regional preference for alternative terms exists.
Connotations
Purely scientific and medical in both varieties. It is a neutral, descriptive term without inherent emotional or social connotations. The word 'sex' here is understood in its biological sense of 'relating to sexual reproduction'.
Frequency
The frequency of use is similar in both varieties, confined almost exclusively to scientific, medical, and educational contexts. It is not an everyday conversational word.
Grammar
How to Use “sex hormone” in a Sentence
The [gland/organ] produces/secrets sex hormones.A [deficiency/rise] in sex hormone levels can cause...Sex hormones are responsible for/regulate/influence...Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “sex hormone” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- [No standard verb form. The verb would be 'to hormonally regulate' or 'to treat with hormones'.]
American English
- [No standard verb form. The verb would be 'to hormonally regulate' or 'to treat with hormones'.]
adverb
British English
- [No standard adverb form. One might say 'hormonally' or use a phrase like 'from a sex-hormone perspective'.]
American English
- [No standard adverb form. One might say 'hormonally' or use a phrase like 'from a sex-hormone perspective'.]
adjective
British English
- The patient underwent sex-hormone therapy.
- Researchers observed a sex-hormone-dependent mechanism.
American English
- The study focused on sex-hormone levels.
- It's a sex-hormone-sensitive tissue.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used, except in the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industries (e.g., 'The company specializes in sex hormone therapies.').
Academic
Common in biology, medicine, physiology, psychology, and endocrinology textbooks and research papers.
Everyday
Rare in casual conversation. Might appear in simplified health articles, discussions about puberty, menopause, or transgender healthcare.
Technical
The primary register. Used precisely in medical diagnoses, clinical research, endocrinology, pharmacology, and scientific literature.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “sex hormone”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “sex hormone”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sex hormone”
- Using 'sex hormone' as a plural without 's' (e.g., 'She has low sex hormone.' - Incorrect; should be 'low sex hormones' or 'a low level of sex hormone').
- Confusing 'sex hormone' with 'growth hormone' or 'thyroid hormone'.
- Incorrectly capitalising it as a proper noun (e.g., 'Sex Hormone').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The primary classes are androgens (e.g., testosterone), estrogens (e.g., estradiol), and progestogens (e.g., progesterone). Both males and females produce all types, but in different ratios.
No. While central to reproduction, they also critically influence bone density, muscle mass, fat distribution, red blood cell production, mood, cognitive function, and cardiovascular health.
Yes, the term encompasses both naturally occurring hormones produced by the body and synthetic analogues used in medications like contraceptive pills or hormone replacement therapy (HRT).
This is an oversimplification. While testosterone is predominant in males and oestrogen in females, both sexes require and produce all major sex hormones. The term 'sex hormone' is more accurate and inclusive.
A hormone, such as oestrogen or testosterone, that is primarily responsible for the development and regulation of sexual characteristics and reproductive functions.
Sex hormone is usually technical, formal, scientific, medical, academic in register.
Sex hormone: in British English it is pronounced /ˌseks ˈhɔːməʊn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌseks ˈhɔːrˌmoʊn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No idioms are associated with this technical term]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'sex hormones' as the body's chemical messengers for 'SEXual' traits: S-Secondary characteristics, E-Energy/metabolism, X-(chromosome) related development.
Conceptual Metaphor
CHEMICAL MESSENGERS / INTERNAL ARCHITECTS / BIOLOGICAL REGULATORS
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is NOT primarily classified as a sex hormone?