menopause

American  

[men-uh-pawz] / ˈmɛn əˌpɔz /

noun

Physiology.

1. the period of permanent cessation of menstruation, usually occurring between the ages of 45 and 55.

2. male menopause.

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menopause British  

/ ˈmɛnəʊˌpɔːz /

noun

1. Nontechnical name: change of life.  the period during which a woman's menstrual cycle ceases, normally occurring at an age of 45 to 50

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menopause Scientific  

/ mĕn′ə-pôz′ /

1. The time at which menstruation ceases, occurring usually between 45 and 55 years of age in humans.

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menopause Cultural  

1. The period in a woman's life when her menstrual cycles stop. Menopause typically occurs between the ages of forty-five and fifty-five.

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Other Word Forms

• menopausal
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of menopause

From the French word ménopause, dating back to 1870–75. See meno-, pause

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

menopause

Martine Barons, from Stratford-upon-Avon, said she began lifting weights during lockdown after listening to a seminar that said women going through menopause should run less and lift more.

From BBC ● Sep. 17, 2026

One potential application would be osteoporosis associated with menopause, when declining hormone levels can accelerate bone loss in women.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 9, 2026

Sloane, the eldest, is an L.A.-based actor and therapist, a feminist in the throes of menopause.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 8, 2026

“I’m way past menopause, thank God, but I care about other people.”

From Salon ● Sep. 7, 2026

He’d pioneered the use of estrogen for treating symptoms of menopause and made important early discoveries about endometriosis.

From "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot