testosterone

American  

[tes-tos-tuh-rohn] / tɛsˈtɒs təˌroʊn /

noun

testosterones plural

1. Biochemistry. the sex hormone C 19 H 28 O 2 , secreted by the testes, that stimulates the development of male sexual organs, secondary sexual traits, and sperm.

2. Pharmacology. a commercially prepared form of the sex hormone C 19 H 28 O 2 , originally isolated from bull's testes and now also produced synthetically, used in medicine chiefly for treatment of testosterone deficiency and for certain gynecological conditions.

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testosterone British  

/ tɛˈstɒstəˌrəʊn /

noun

1. a potent steroid hormone secreted mainly by the testes. It can be extracted from the testes of animals or synthesized and used to treat androgen deficiency or promote anabolism. Formula: C 19 H 28 O 2

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testosterone Scientific  

/ tĕs-tŏs′tə-rōn′ /

1. A steroid hormone that is the most potent naturally occurring androgen and that regulates the development of the male reproductive system and male secondary sex characteristics. Testosterone is produced mainly in the testes and is also used as a drug in the treatment of certain medical disorders. Chemical formula: C ₁₉ H ₂₈ O ₂ .

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testosterone Cultural  

1. A male hormone that governs secondary sex characteristics. It is produced in the testes.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• testosterones
  plural

Etymology

Origin of testosterone

First recorded in 1930–35; testo- (combining form of testis ) + ster(ol) + -one

Explanation

Testosterone is a hormone made in the testes in males and in the ovaries in females. Testosterone is generally found in greater amounts in males, where it aids in the development of the male sex organs and sperm. The word testosterone was coined in the 1930s. It is based on the Latin word testis, which means testicle, and the word sterol, meaning steroid. Because it is the hormone that develops male characteristics, the word testosterone sometimes refers to the quality of being male. A room crowded with men watching football is commonly described as being "full of testosterone."

Example Sentences

Most importantly, the plaintiffs in these cases never went through male puberty, though they did grow breast tissue and lack testosterone levels typical of men.

From Slate • Jul. 7, 2026

In the wake of childbirth, testosterone levels in both fathers and mothers briefly taper.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 19, 2026

Other animals were treated with testosterone every 48 hours for 14 days before testing.

From Science Daily • Jun. 17, 2026

It said prescriptions of testosterone and oestrogen should only be offered to young people from around the age of 16 with "extreme caution" after being signed off by a national team of specialists.

From BBC • Jun. 11, 2026

The weirdness between them could’ve been avoided if I’d made sure they met properly, rather than over testosterone, beer, and foosball.

From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam