menstruation

American  

[men-stroo-ay-shuhn, -stray-] / ˌmɛn struˈeɪ ʃən, -ˈstreɪ- /

noun

• menstruations
  plural

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  

/ 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

Derived Forms

• menstruous
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• menstruations
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of menstruation

First recorded in 1770–80; menstruate + -ion

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

menstruation menstruations

These included changes in menstruation such as bleeding between periods, heavy bleeding, and irregular menstrual cycles.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 13, 2026

Grace's periods began when she was 11, and by 13, she was having excruciating pains around the time of menstruation.

From BBC ● Aug. 23, 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

The film addresses stigma surrounding menstruation and includes biologically accurate descriptions; educational groups have screened it.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 9, 2026

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

From "A Girl Named Disaster" by Nancy Farmer

If the secondary anemia from this is not overcome during the interval profuse menstruations may succeed each other for many months.

From Psychotherapy by James J. (James Joseph) Walsh

Such a suggestion inevitably leads to a series of more profuse menstruations during the following months.

From Psychotherapy by James J. (James Joseph) Walsh

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