cortisol

American  

[kawr-tuh-sawl, -sohl] / ˈkɔr təˌsɔl, -ˌsoʊl /

noun

1. Biochemistry. one of several steroid hormones produced by the adrenal cortex and resembling cortisone in its action.

2. Pharmacology. hydrocortisone.

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cortisol British  

/ ˈkɔːtɪˌsɒl /

noun

1. another name for hydrocortisone

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cortisol Scientific  

/ kôr′tĭ-sôl′,-sōl′ /

1. The principal steroid hormone produced by the adrenal cortex. It regulates carbohydrate metabolism and the immune system and maintains blood pressure. When natural or synthetic cortisol is used as a pharmaceutical, it is known as hydrocortisone.

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Etymology

Origin of cortisol

First recorded in 1950–55; cortis(one) + -ol ¹

Compare meaning

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

• cortisone vs. cortisol

Example Sentences

But there is the potential for long-term health damage – heart disease, autoimmune problems - linked to "toxic stress", where the body is flooded with hormones like cortisol and catecholamines, which produce adrenaline.

From BBC

Heart rate and blood pressure jump and stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline surge.

From BBC

If you were stressed before you began this exercise, your heart rate probably slowed and stabilized as levels of cortisol and other stress hormones decreased in your blood.

From Los Angeles Times

They discovered that AVI generated by the AI model aligned with established stress questionnaires, with circulating cortisol levels and with future adverse cardiovascular events.

From Science Daily

“My cortisol runs high without anything happening, so I’m trying to get it down,” she says.

From Los Angeles Times