birth-control pill

American  

[burth-kuhn-trohl] / ˈbɜrθ kənˌtroʊl /

noun

1. an oral contraceptive for women, containing the hormones estrogen and progesterone or progesterone alone, that inhibits ovulation, fertilization, or implantation of a fertilized ovum, causing temporary infertility.

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Etymology

Origin of birth-control pill

First recorded in 1955–60

Example Sentences

"It may be that the day will come when people say the birth-control pill was a mistake," Alan Sears explained.

From Salon • Oct. 9, 2023

Food and Drug Administration approved a birth-control pill called Opill for use without a prescription on Thursday.

From Scientific American • Jul. 13, 2023

A few years ago, after learning she had high blood pressure, Shannon Connell-Robichaud asked her doctor to switch her birth-control pill prescription.

From New York Times • Dec. 14, 2021

Carl Djerassi, 91, the Stanford University chemist widely considered the father of the birth-control pill, died Jan. 30 in San Francisco.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 7, 2015

Just before I moved to New York, two historic events had occurred: the birth-control pill was invented and the first Julia Child cookbook was published.

From The New Yorker • Feb. 6, 2006