prostate
Americanadjective
noun
noun
adjective
Other Word Forms
- postprostate adjective
- preprostatic adjective
- subprostatic adjective
Etymology
Origin of prostate
First recorded in 1640–50; from New Latin prostata, from Greek prostátēs “one standing before”; equivalent to pro- 2 + -stat
Explanation
The prostate gland is part of a man's reproductive system; it's located near his bladder and is about the size of a kiwi fruit. Prostate cancer, which is fairly common in men, is usually treatable if it is detected early. The prostate is a gland found in most male mammals. The root word is the Greek prostates, which literally means one who stands before, or protector, guardian — which describes the prostate's position in front of the bladder. Don't confuse prostate, the part of male anatomy, with prostrate a verb that describes lying down.
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.
Days before spring training, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 8, 2026
Jack Karlson died from prostate cancer in 2024, aged 82.
From BBC • Mar. 30, 2026
Sure enough, I tested positive for BRCA1, and now my doctors and I are on high alert not just for breast cancer but also linked cancers like prostate and pancreatic cancer.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 17, 2026
Current phase 1 and phase 2 trials are testing 2141-V11 against several difficult-to-treat cancers, including bladder cancer, prostate cancer, and glioblastoma.
From Science Daily • Mar. 16, 2026
He was in the bed nearer the door, separated by a curtain from his roommate: the Hampden County postmaster, as we later discovered, who was in for a prostate operation.
From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt
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.
