menopause

American  

[men-uh-pawz] / ˈmɛn əˌpɔz /

noun

Physiology.

1. the period of permanent cessation of menstruation, usually occurring between the ages of 45 and 55.

2. male menopause.

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menopause British  

/ ˈmɛnəʊˌpɔːz /

noun

1. Nontechnical name: change of life. the period during which a woman's menstrual cycle ceases, normally occurring at an age of 45 to 50

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menopause Scientific  

/ mĕn′ə-pôz′ /

1. The time at which menstruation ceases, occurring usually between 45 and 55 years of age in humans.

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menopause Cultural  

1. The period in a woman's life when her menstrual cycles stop. Menopause typically occurs between the ages of forty-five and fifty-five.

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Other Word Forms

• menopausal
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of menopause

From the French word ménopause, dating back to 1870–75. See meno-, pause

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

menopause

The 55-year-old from Pencoed, Bridgend county, experienced increased fatigue and light vaginal bleeding but put it down to working extra hours and the menopause.

From BBC ● Oct. 5, 2026

Williams, who initially self-diagnosed, wants other women to be aware of perimenopause, the years leading up to menopause, which she described as the "danger zone".

From BBC ● Oct. 3, 2026

After about a year, I found a doctor specializing in menopause who prescribed an estrogen patch, testosterone cream and progesterone pills.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026

Even as I adjusted to a new menopause normal, some symptoms, like anxiety, still surged.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026

He’d pioneered the use of estrogen for treating symptoms of menopause and made important early discoveries about endometriosis.

From "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot