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

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

Andrews was first diagnosed with stage three adrenal cancer in April 2023 and underwent chemotherapy, Luxe said.

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

"Secondly, it is a physiologically sound measure of adrenal volume, which is part of the chronic stress physiologic cascade."

From Science Daily • Dec. 14, 2025

Recent medical research has revealed that DDD does strongly suppress the function of the human adrenal cortex.

From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson