vagina

American  

[vuh-jahy-nuh] / vəˈdʒaɪ nə /

noun

vaginas, plural vaginae plural

1. Anatomy, Zoology.

   1. the passage leading from the uterus to the vulva in certain female mammals.

   2. a sheathlike part or organ.

2. Botany. the sheath formed by the basal part of certain leaves where they embrace the stem.

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vagina British  

/ vəˈdʒaɪnə /

noun

1. the moist canal in most female mammals, including humans, that extends from the cervix of the uterus to an external opening between the labia minora

2. anatomy biology any sheath or sheathlike structure, such as a leaf base that encloses a stem

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vagina Scientific  

/ və-jī′nə /

1. The tube-shaped part of the reproductive tract in female mammals that is connected to the uterus at one end and opens to the outside of the body on the other end. The fully developed fetus passes through the vagina during birth.

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vagina Cultural  

1. A tubelike passageway in the female that connects the external genitals with the uterus.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• vaginal
  adjective

Inflected Forms

noun

• vaginae
  plural
• vaginas
  plural

Etymology

Origin of vagina

1675–85; < New Latin; Latin vāgīna sheath

Compare meaning

How does vagina compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• vulva vs. vagina

Explanation

The vagina is a canal-like area in women stretching from the uterus to the labia. Vaginas are pretty important, since they're crucial for birth and sex. A vagina is an opening in a woman's body that goes back to her uterus. In sex, the man's penis goes into the vagina. In birth, the baby comes out of the vagina. That makes vaginas pretty crucial to life. Without a vagina, there'd be no babies in the womb, and even if there were, they'd have no way to get out of the womb and be born.

Example Sentences

To insert an IUD, a clinician opens the vagina using a speculum and grips the cervix with a type of forceps, which can cause a sudden, sharp pain.

From Slate • Jun. 7, 2026

PIEZO2, in contrast, is located in sensory nerves in the cervix and vagina.

From Science Daily • Jan. 13, 2026

Prolapse happens when one or more of the organs in the pelvis, such as the bladder, bowel or uterus, slip from their usual position and bulge into the vagina.

From BBC • Oct. 22, 2025

"There's a lot of healing that happens. It takes about six weeks for the uterus to return to its pre-pregnancy size. Any tears in the vagina or perineum are also healing."

From BBC • Sep. 22, 2025

The growth is usually primary in the uterus, but may be so in the Fallopian tubes and in the vagina.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 12, Slice 7 "Gyantse" to "Hallel" by Various

Related Words

• genitals