testosterone
Americannoun
-
testosterones
plural
-
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.
-
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.
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
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."
Vocabulary lists containing testosterone
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.
See Examples For:
Men who consumed the most animal protein had average total testosterone concentrations 1.2 nmol/l lower than those who consumed the least.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 13, 2026
The researchers also cannot determine whether eating different types of protein influences testosterone production or changes how the hormone functions in the body.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 13, 2026
Although age, excess body weight, and lifestyle habits are known to influence testosterone levels, scientists have conducted relatively little research into how diet, especially protein consumption, might be associated with this hormone.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 13, 2026
They attributed that change him being given testosterone, which he had been receiving before he was arrested.
From BBC ● Nov. 10, 2026
The Box had the highest testosterone level in the prison, and somehow smelled like it—close, musty, with an acrid whiff of perspiration.
From "Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing" by Ted Conover
![]()
That same study also found that 16.5 percent of elite male athletes had testosterones levels that fell below the "typical" range for men.
From The Verge ● May 22, 2015
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions 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.