androgen

noun

an·​dro·​gen ˈan-drə-jən How to pronounce androgen (audio)
: a male sex hormone (such as testosterone)
androgenic
ˌan-drə-ˈje-nik How to pronounce androgen (audio)
adjective

Examples of androgen 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.
Shifts in androgen levels can shrink your scalp follicles, leading to finer hair on your scalp and coarser hair on your face. — Brandi Jones, Health, 5 June 2026 Your doctor can check your hormones for insulin resistance or elevated androgen, a hormone which can cause things like acne, balding or increased body hair, Boots said. — Madeline Holcombe, CNN Money, 13 May 2026 Whether triggered by pregnancy, menopause, a thyroid disorder or excess androgens, hormonal imbalance frequently takes a toll on hair health. — Ascend Agency, New York Daily News, 16 June 2026 Anti-androgens like spironolactone and finasteride. — Jana Pollack, Parents, 28 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for androgen

Word History

Etymology

andro- + -gen, after estrogen

Note: The term was apparently introduced in a short article "The Nomenclature of 'Male Hormones'" by the American Medical Society's Council on Pharmacy and Chemistry, published in the Journal of the American Medical Society, vol. 107, no. 3 (July 18, 1936), p. 212.

First Known Use

1936, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of androgen was in 1936

Phrases Containing androgen

Browse Nearby Words

androecium
androgen
androgen deprivation therapy
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Androgen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/androgen. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

androgen

noun
an·​dro·​gen ˈan-drə-jən How to pronounce androgen (audio)
: a male sex hormone (as testosterone)

Medical Definition

androgen

noun
an·​dro·​gen ˈan-drə-jən How to pronounce androgen (audio)
: a male sex hormone (as testosterone)
androgenic
ˌan-drə-ˈjen-ik How to pronounce androgen (audio)
adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on androgen

Nglish: Translation of androgen for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about androgen

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