# tampon

/ˈtæmpɑn/ (US) · /tˈæmpɒn/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/tampon
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. menstrual hygiene

noun · CEFR B1

a small, soft tube of cotton that a woman uses inside her body to absorb blood during her period.

For teachers: a cylinder of absorbent material inserted into the vagina to absorb menstrual flow.

- She always keeps a spare tampon in her handbag just in case her period starts early.
- The introduction of organic cotton tampons has addressed concerns regarding synthetic fibres and chemical residues in personal hygiene products.

### 2. medical plug

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a piece of material used by doctors to stop bleeding in a deep wound or body opening.

For teachers: a pack or plug of lint or cotton used in surgery or first aid to arrest haemorrhage or absorb secretions from a wound.

- The doctor used a sterile tampon to stop the bleeding from the patient's nose.
- In emergency trauma care, a medic may use a specialised tampon to provide internal pressure to a deep puncture wound.

### 3. to plug a wound

verb · CEFR C2 · Technical · Formal

to put a piece of soft material into a wound to stop it from bleeding.

For teachers: to plug or pack a wound or body cavity with absorbent material to control bleeding.

- The surgeon had to tampon the area to manage the heavy bleeding during the operation.
- The medical team worked quickly to tampon the arterial bleed before the patient was moved to the intensive care unit.

Usage: This verb is almost exclusively used in medical or surgical contexts.

## Examples

- She buys a pack of tampons every month.
- The nurse explained how to insert a tampon correctly to ensure it stays in place during the day.
- While some women prefer external pads, others find tampons more convenient for physical activities or when they want to avoid visible signs of their menstrual cycle.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.