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

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Compare meaning

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

• cortisone vs. cortisol

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

cortisol

In networks associated with emotion, cortisol produced more consistent patterns of activity and increased their engagement.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 16, 2026

First, cortisol improved participants' ability to remember emotionally significant experiences, confirming what earlier research had suggested.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 16, 2026

By identifying patterns associated with emotional intensity and memory formation separately, the scientists were able to examine how cortisol influenced each network and the interactions between them.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 16, 2026

The thing about cortisol is that it’s more than a stress hormone.

From Slate ● Oct. 9, 2026

“They are now juxtaposing their typical day against this new feeling, what it feels like to not have cortisol going through the roof,” he says.

From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel

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