thermoregulation

American  

[thur-moh-reg-yuh-ley-shuhn] / ˌθɜr moʊˌrɛg yəˈleɪ ʃən /

noun

Physiology.

1. the regulation of body temperature.

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thermoregulation Scientific  

/ thûr′mō-rĕg′yə-lā′shən /

1. Maintenance of a constant internal body temperature independent of the environmental temperature. Thermoregulation in humans is effected through metabolic activity and sweating.

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Other Word Forms

• thermoregulatory adjective

Etymology

Origin of thermoregulation

First recorded in 1925–30; thermo- + regulation

Example Sentences

“Our power of thermoregulation meant that we . . . were able to operate at higher levels of exertion in hot conditions, and sustain a higher body temperature, than nearly all other mammals.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 16, 2026

According to the study, "excessive heat, with maximal temperatures exceeding 40°C, can reduce colony populations by impairing the thermoregulation of brood or by exposing adults to temperatures that shorten their lifespans."

From Science Daily • Jan. 13, 2026

Blood, an essential component of thermoregulation, normally distributes heat all over the body; in extreme cold, the sympathetic nervous system reduces blood flow to the skin to preserve warmth in the body.

From Scientific American • Nov. 1, 2023

Yet pregnant people have additional tools that apparently aid thermoregulation.

From Science Magazine • Sep. 27, 2023

A high Cmw reduces the cost of thermoregulation in hot environments because it increases an animal's ability to lose excess heat passively.

From Metabolic Adaptation to Climate and Distribution of the Raccoon Procyon Lotor and Other Procyonidae by Mahlke-Johnson, Kathleen P.