men
1 Americannoun
noun
Usage
What does men- mean? Men- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “month.” It is used in a few medical terms, specifically in references to menstruation.Men- comes from the Greek mḗn, meaning “month.” It's distantly related to the English word moon, itself related to the word month. Many calendars, both in the past and present, are based on the cycles of the moon.Menstruation is the periodic flow (known as menses) of blood and other substances from the uterus, which happens approximately every month in women of certain ages. Indeed, both menstruation and menses derive from the Latin mēnsis, meaning “month.”Men- is a variant of meno-, which loses its -o- when combined with words or word elements beginning with vowels.Want to know more? Read our Words That Use meno- article.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
If the judge sided with police and prosecutors—that the two men killed out of fear for their lives—the family’s lawsuit would be over.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 5, 2026
But only the men who happen to pull on the jersey of the national soccer team have proven themselves capable of turning tragedy from high art into national humiliation.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 4, 2026
According to a plaque, a group of men sitting around a well enjoying "their usual drink" invited a passing stranger to join them.
From BBC • Apr. 4, 2026
The dance night skews older — and draws about twice as many women as men.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 4, 2026
“Oh Lord,” I whispered, “listen to Betsie, not me, because I cannot pray for those men at all.”
From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
