Showing results for varicocele. Search instead for varicoceles.

varicocele

American

[var-i-koh-seel] / ˈvær ɪ koʊˌsil /

noun

Pathology.

a varicose condition of the spermatic veins of the scrotum.

varicocele British

/ ˈværɪkəʊˌsiːl /

noun

pathol an abnormal distension of the veins of the spermatic cord in the scrotum

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of varicocele

First recorded in 1730–40; varico- + -cele ¹

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:

varicocele

A review revealed a varicocele - a swelling of veins in the scrotum that can affect sperm quality.

From BBC ● Jun. 26, 2026

Pav Stojkovic, who lives in L.A. and works in tech, and his wife were trying to get pregnant for six months until he discovered he had varicocele, a common condition that was impacting his sperm.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 7, 2026

A physical examination can identify varicocele, and it’s easily ruled out by an ultrasound scan.

From The Guardian ● Aug. 12, 2018

The leading cause of male infertility is a complaint called varicocele, which is a knot of varicose veins in the testes.

From The Guardian ● Aug. 12, 2018

He was discharged from the service February 22, 1863, and the cause of discharge is stated to be "varicocele, to which he was subject four years before enlistment."

From A Compilation of the Messages and Papers of the Presidents Volume 8, part 3: Grover Cleveland, First Term by James D. (James Daniel) Richardson

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023