Meaning & use

hormone

noun·Academic

A chemical substance produced by a gland that travels through the blood to regulate specific organs or tissues.

See it in a sentence

Insulin is a hormone that helps the body control blood sugar levels.

Doctors measured her thyroid hormone levels to explain the sudden weight loss.

A note on using this word

Hormone is often used loosely in everyday speech for any substance thought to affect mood or growth, as during puberty.

Words with a similar meaning

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