semen

noun

se·​men ˈsē-mən How to pronounce semen (audio)
: a viscid whitish fluid of the male reproductive tract consisting of spermatozoa suspended in secretions of accessory glands (as of the prostate and Cowper's glands)

Examples of semen in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
What a semen analysis reveals A doctor may commonly order a semen analysis as part of a fertility workup or after a vasectomy to ensure no sperm are left in the ejaculate. — Dr. Jamin Brahmbhatt, CNN Money, 13 Oct. 2026 Advances in semen freezing in the late 1940s greatly expanded the feasibility of artificial insemination. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 Oct. 2026 Men who develop symptoms — including changes in urination, blood in the urine or semen, or persistent back or hip pain — should see a doctor promptly for evaluation, experts advise. — Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 23 Sep. 2026 Investigators ultimately matched semen recovered at the scene to DNA recovered from an unsolved rape in Manhattan from 2000. — Rebecca White, New York Daily News, 18 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for semen

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin, seed, semen; akin to Old High German sāmo seed, Latin serere to sow — more at sow

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of semen was in the 14th century

Rhymes for semen

See All Rhymes for semen

Browse Nearby Words

sememe
semen
semen contra
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Semen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/semen. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

semen

noun
se·​men ˈsē-mən How to pronounce semen (audio)
: a sticky whitish fluid of the male reproductive tract that contains the sperm

Medical Definition

semen

noun
se·​men ˈsē-mən How to pronounce semen (audio)
: a viscid whitish fluid of the male reproductive tract consisting of spermatozoa suspended in secretions of accessory glands (as of the prostate and Cowper's glands)

More from Merriam-Webster on semen

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about semen

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of fervid

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All