progesterone

[ proh-jes-tuh-rohn ]

/ proʊˈdʒɛs təˌroʊn /

Save This Word!

noun

Biochemistry. a hormone, C21H30O2, that prepares the uterus for the fertilized ovum and maintains pregnancy.

Pharmacology. a commercial form of this compound, obtained from the corpus luteum of pregnant sows or synthesized: used in the treatment of dysfunctional uterine bleeding, dysmenorrhea, threatened or recurrent abortion, etc.

COMPARE MEANINGS

Click for a side-by-side comparison of meanings. Use the word comparison feature to learn the differences between similar and commonly confused words.

QUIZ

QUIZ YOURSELF ON "WAS" VS. "WERE"!

Were you ready for a quiz on this topic? Well, here it is! See how well you can differentiate between the uses of "was" vs. "were" in this quiz.

Question 1 of 7

“Was” is used for the indicative past tense of “to be,” and “were” is only used for the subjunctive past tense.

true

false

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of progesterone

1930–35; blend of progestin and luteosterone (<German Luteosteron, synonymous with progestin, equivalent to Luteo-luteo- (representing corpus luteum) + -steron (see sterol, -one))

Words nearby progesterone

progeny, progeria, pro-German, progeroid, progestational, progesterone, progestin, progestogen, proglossis, proglottid, proglottis

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use progesterone in a sentence

Estrogen—and the hormone progesterone, to a lesser extent—is believed to be involved in the body’s immune response and may limit inflammation, he says.
Women Seem to Have Better COVID-19 Outcomes Than Men. Here’s a Theory Why|Tara Law|February 18, 2022|Time
Triple negative cancer lacks the molecular flags—for estrogen, progesterone or HER2—that common breast cancer drugs target.
New Study Explores if a Vaccine Can Prevent Breast Cancer|Alice Park|November 29, 2021|Time
Djerassi and Syntex director George Rosenkranz wanted a progesterone pill.
Luis Miramontes helped enable the sexual revolution. Why isn’t he better known?|Carmen Drahl|September 21, 2021|Science News
Meanwhile, experts and activists made the connection between progesterone and birth control, because progesterone prevents ovulation during pregnancy.
Luis Miramontes helped enable the sexual revolution. Why isn’t he better known?|Carmen Drahl|September 21, 2021|Science News

The “female” hormones estrogen and progesterone, along with others, were directing the orchestra.
How medicine sought to control women’s bodies while ignoring their symptoms|Susan Okie|July 2, 2021|Washington Post
Other uteri, tainted by low, regular doses of progesterone and/or witchcraft, become evil.
Getting to Know the ‘Beyoncé Voter’|Kelly Williams Brown|July 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Turns out, she was just putting on too much progesterone cream.
The Best and Worst of Jenny McCarthy (Video)|Sara Bower, Natasha Bach|July 15, 2013|DAILY BEAST
"For three months she had to take huge progesterone shots in her back every day," Mindy said of Gina's ordeal.
10 Ways to Have a Baby|Doree Shafrir|September 13, 2009|DAILY BEAST

British Dictionary definitions for progesterone

progesterone

/ (prəʊˈdʒɛstəˌrəʊn) /

noun

a steroid hormone, secreted mainly by the corpus luteum in the ovary, that prepares and maintains the uterus for pregnancy. Formula: C 21 H 30 O 2Also called: corpus luteum hormone

Word Origin for progesterone

C20: from pro- 1 + ge (station) + ster (ol) + -one

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medical definitions for progesterone

progesterone

[ prō-jĕs′tə-rōn′ ]

A steroid hormone secreted by the corpus luteum and by the placenta, that acts to prepare the uterus for implantation of the fertilized ovum, to maintain pregnancy, and to promote development of the mammary glands.corpus luteum hormone luteohormone progestational hormone

A drug prepared from natural or synthetic progesterone, used in oral contraceptives, hormone replacement therapy, and in the treatment of menstrual and other gynecologic disorders.

Scientific definitions for progesterone

progesterone

[ prō-jĕs′tə-rōn′ ]

A steroid hormone that prepares the uterus for pregnancy, maintains pregnancy, and promotes development of the mammary glands. The main sources of progesterone are the ovary and the placenta. Chemical formula: C21H30O2.