vagina

American  

[vuh-jahy-nuh] / vəˈdʒaɪ nə /

noun

vaginas, plural vaginae plural

1. Anatomy, Zoology.

   1. the passage leading from the uterus to the vulva in certain female mammals.

   2. a sheathlike part or organ.

2. Botany. the sheath formed by the basal part of certain leaves where they embrace the stem.

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vagina British  

/ vəˈdʒaɪnə /

noun

1. the moist canal in most female mammals, including humans, that extends from the cervix of the uterus to an external opening between the labia minora

2. anatomy biology any sheath or sheathlike structure, such as a leaf base that encloses a stem

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vagina Scientific  

/ və-jī′nə /

1. The tube-shaped part of the reproductive tract in female mammals that is connected to the uterus at one end and opens to the outside of the body on the other end. The fully developed fetus passes through the vagina during birth.

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vagina Cultural  

1. A tubelike passageway in the female that connects the external genitals with the uterus.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• vaginal
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• vaginae
  plural
• vaginas
  plural

Etymology

Origin of vagina

1675–85; < New Latin; Latin vāgīna sheath

Compare meaning

How does vagina compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• vulva vs. vagina

Explanation

The vagina is a canal-like area in women stretching from the uterus to the labia. Vaginas are pretty important, since they're crucial for birth and sex. A vagina is an opening in a woman's body that goes back to her uterus. In sex, the man's penis goes into the vagina. In birth, the baby comes out of the vagina. That makes vaginas pretty crucial to life. Without a vagina, there'd be no babies in the womb, and even if there were, they'd have no way to get out of the womb and be born.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

vagina vaginas

To insert an IUD, a clinician opens the vagina using a speculum and grips the cervix with a type of forceps, which can cause a sudden, sharp pain.

From Slate ● Jun. 7, 2026

PIEZO2, in contrast, is located in sensory nerves in the cervix and vagina.

From Science Daily ● Jan. 13, 2026

"There's a lot of healing that happens. It takes about six weeks for the uterus to return to its pre-pregnancy size. Any tears in the vagina or perineum are also healing."

From BBC ● Sep. 22, 2025

In some cases the fallopian tubes, ovaries, lymph glands, and part of the vagina, can also be removed.

From BBC ● Nov. 16, 2024

Sanguineous discharge from vagina began on 30th and continued until Sept. 4th; this was two weeks before the patient's regular period.

From A System of Practical Medicine by American Authors, Vol. I Volume 1: Pathology and General Diseases by Various

UK chain Lloyd's Pharmacy says it's "normal for vaginas and vaginal fluids to have a slight smell, which will vary according to hormones, activity, hygiene and diet".

From BBC ● Feb. 7, 2023

Beyond being an important technological advance, she says, the interest of someone like Ingber—whom she calls the “godfather” of organ chip technology—may help to normalize research on vaginas.

From Scientific American ● Dec. 15, 2022

“Historically, the anatomy and physiology of bodies with vaginas have been neglected,” the journal’s Sept. 25 issue cover proclaimed in blue ink, centering the text on a blank white background.

From Washington Times ● Oct. 1, 2021

Some women lack a hymen, a membrane that partly covers vaginas and can also change as a girl matures due to hormonal change.

From Seattle Times ● Dec. 4, 2019

I've operated on many vaginas, as have many other gynecologists.

From Salon ● Aug. 27, 2019

Related Words

• genitals