menopause

American  

[men-uh-pawz] / ˈmɛn əˌpɔz /

noun

Physiology.

1. the period of permanent cessation of menstruation, usually occurring between the ages of 45 and 55.

2. male menopause.

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menopause British  

/ ˈmɛnəʊˌpɔːz /

noun

1. Nontechnical name: change of life. the period during which a woman's menstrual cycle ceases, normally occurring at an age of 45 to 50

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menopause Scientific  

/ mĕn′ə-pôz′ /

1. The time at which menstruation ceases, occurring usually between 45 and 55 years of age in humans.

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menopause Cultural  

1. The period in a woman's life when her menstrual cycles stop. Menopause typically occurs between the ages of forty-five and fifty-five.

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Other Word Forms

• menopausal
  adjective

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Etymology

Origin of menopause

From the French word ménopause, dating back to 1870–75. See meno-, pause

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

menopause

A support group is holding a county-wide event for women coping with pain associated with menopause and perimenopause.

From BBC ● Oct. 17, 2026

Perimenopause’s journey from little-understood phase before menopause to the subject of every ad on social media for women of a certain age was quick—and impossible to imagine without the internet.

From Slate ● Oct. 16, 2026

Roisin Hillman, co-founder of Menopause Together, Northern Ireland's first menopause support charity, noted some women forced to switch brands due to medication shortages have reported side effects like itchy skin or patches falling off.

From BBC ● Oct. 14, 2026

The discomfort led me to look into other wellness experiences that directly address menopause.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026

Esteban said that it was menopause and that there was nothing anyone could do.

From "The House of the Spirits: A Novel" by Isabel Allende

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