menstruation

American  

[men-stroo-ey-shuhn, -strey-] / ˌmɛn struˈeɪ ʃən, -ˈstreɪ- /

noun

1. the periodic discharge of blood and mucosal tissue from the uterus, occurring approximately monthly from puberty to menopause in nonpregnant women and females of other primate species.

2. the period of menstruating.

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menstruation British  

/ ˈmɛnstrʊəs, ˌmɛnstrʊˈeɪʃən /

noun

1. Nontechnical name: period.  Also called: menses.  the approximately monthly discharge of blood and cellular debris from the uterus by nonpregnant women from puberty to the menopause

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menstruation Scientific  

/ mĕn′stro̅o̅-ā′shən /

1. The monthly flow of blood from the uterus beginning at puberty in girls and other female primates.

2. Also called menses

3. See also menstrual cycle

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menstruation Cultural  

1. The periodic discharge of the blood-enriched lining of the uterus through the vagina. Menstruation marks the end of one menstrual cycle and the beginning of another.

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Other Word Forms

• menstruous adjective

Etymology

Origin of menstruation

First recorded in 1770–80; menstruate + -ion

Example Sentences

A humiliating incident in a pool surrounded by her repulsed classmates echoes an iconic scene from “Carrie,” with Ducournau crafting an analogy for traumatic adolescent rites of passage like menstruation.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 26, 2026

From menstruation mishaps to a meditation on old age, and the challenges faced by Arab-Israelis in the aftermath of the Hamas attacks, one Oscars category is nothing if not varied.

From Barron's • Mar. 4, 2026

Early onset of menstruation, late menopause, or not having children also increase risk.

From Science Daily • Jan. 20, 2026

Women say that unlike menstruation and pregnancy, guidance from doctors about menopause can be hard to come by, so they often struggle to find the source of their ailments.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 11, 2025

The only encouraging event was the reappearance of Masvita’s menstruation.

From "A Girl Named Disaster" by Nancy Farmer