spermicide

American  

[spur-muh-sahyd] / ˈspɜr məˌsaɪd /

noun

1. a sperm-killing agent, especially a commercial birth-control preparation, usually a cream or jelly.

---

spermicide British  

/ ˈspɜːmɪˌsaɪd /

noun

1. any drug or other agent that kills spermatozoa

---

spermicide Scientific  

/ spûr′mĭ-sīd′ /

1. An agent that kills spermatozoa, especially one that is used as a contraceptive.

---

Other Word Forms

• spermicidal adjective

Etymology

Origin of spermicide

First recorded in 1925–30; sperm ¹ + -i- + -cide

Example Sentences

Over time, IUDs were tweaked and refined, notably with the introduction of copper, which acts as a spermicide.

From Salon

Also, the use of anabolic steroids for bodybuilding will lower spermicide counts dramatically.

From Fox News

The list includes several pages of pharmaceutical ingredients such as “medicaments containing antibiotics,“ “antisera and other blood fractions including human blood and fetal bovine serum” and “chemical contraceptive preparations based on hormones or spermicides.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Neonicotinoids act as spermicide for drone bees, reducing sperm count by 40 percent, according to a recent study conducted Institute of Bee Health at the University of Bern, Switzerland.

From Washington Times

Past honorees include a study of dogs’ preferred orientation when pooping and research into whether Coca-Cola is an effective spermicide.

From Science Magazine