adrenal

American  

[uh-dreen-l] / əˈdrin l /

adjective

1. of or produced by the adrenal glands.

2. situated near or on the kidneys; suprarenal.

---

noun

1. adrenal gland.

adrenal British  

/ əˈdriːnəl /

adjective

1. on or near the kidneys

2. of or relating to the adrenal glands or their secretions

---

noun

1. an adrenal gland

Other Word Forms

• adrenally
  adverb

---

Etymology

Origin of adrenal

1870–75; ad- + Latin rēn- (stem of rēnēs kidneys) + -al ¹

---

Explanation

The adjective adrenal describes something near the kidneys. The adrenal glands control the release of stress hormones in the body. Adrenal is a scientific term describing a pair of endocrine glands that sit at the top of the kidneys in the human body. These glands control the way the kidneys work, as well as affecting stress hormones like adrenaline. The word adrenal, "of or near the kidneys," comes from Latin roots: ad-, "at or near," and renes, "kidneys."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

adrenal

It also prompts the adrenal glands to release adrenaline.

From Science Daily ● May 18, 2026

Neurocrine already markets Crenessity, an oral CRF1 receptor antagonist used to treat congenital adrenal hyperplasia, which is a collection of genetic disorders affecting the adrenal glands.

From MarketWatch ● Apr. 6, 2026

A phaeochromocytoma is a rare tumour of the adrenal glands, which sit above the kidneys, the NHS says.

From BBC ● Feb. 13, 2026

“Copenhagen” taps the adrenal gland by keeping viewers off balance about who is who and what is what, beginning with the opening subtitles: President—and former CIA director—George H.W.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 26, 2025

A growth on her adrenal gland had turned up on a Bellevue CAT scan, prompting a visit to an endocrinologist.

From "Class Matters" by The New York Times

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---