English Reference

Word

estrogen

Phoneticses·tro·gen

/ˈɛstɹədʒən/

UK spelling · oestrogen

Definition

n. a hormone in the body that is responsible for developing female physical features. Both men and women have it, but women have much higher levels.

n. a primary female sex hormone responsible for the development and regulation of the female reproductive system and secondary sex characteristics. Produced mainly by the ovaries, though present in smaller quantities in males.

Examples

“The doctor checked her estrogen levels during the checkup.”

“During menopause, the body produces less estrogen, which can lead to various physical changes and symptoms.”

“Research indicates that estrogen plays a crucial role not only in reproductive health but also in maintaining bone density and cardiovascular function throughout a person's life.”

Examples

simple

“The doctor checked her estrogen levels during the checkup.”

contextual

“During menopause, the body produces less estrogen, which can lead to various physical changes and symptoms.”

complex

“Research indicates that estrogen plays a crucial role not only in reproductive health but also in maintaining bone density and cardiovascular function throughout a person's life.”

Usage

Commonly used in medical and biological contexts; spelled 'oestrogen' in British English.

Real-World Examples

“For example, a 1976 paper suggests that how the body makes, stores, releases and breaks down histamine can fluctuate across the menstrual cycle and may be linked to estrogen.”
The Guardian · 14 Aug 2026
“The luteal phase occurs in the second half of a woman's cycle when they experience a huge drop in oestrogen.”
BBC News · 4 Aug 2026
“During this phase, which occurs in the second half of a woman's cycle and ends when she gets her period, women experience a huge drop in oestrogen.”
BBC News · 3 Aug 2026
“Then the period hits and oestrogen – the hormone which drives your thermoregulatory system – drops to its lowest level, putting more pressure on your heart to cool down.”
BBC News · 8 Jul 2026

Etymology

From estro- (estrus) + -gen (“a producer of”).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry

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C1 · Advanced
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Frequent
Updated

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English Reference