sperm

1 of 2

noun

plural sperm or sperms
1
a
: semen
b
: a male gamete
especially : spermatozoon sense 1
2
: a product of the sperm whale

sperm-

2 of 2

combining form

variants or spermo- or sperma- or spermi-
: seed : germ : sperm
spermatheca
spermicide

Examples of sperm in a Sentence

Noun The sperm fertilizes the egg.
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.
Noun
This means elephant sperm is frequently exposed to high body temperatures that can damage DNA. New Atlas, 20 May 2025 The females release thousands to millions of eggs from a hole toward the front of their bodies; these are then fertilized by sperm. Katarina Zimmer, JSTOR Daily, 15 May 2025 This reduces sperm competition and improves the odds that the eunuch male’s genes are the ones passed on. Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 18 Apr. 2025 For one thing, the methods for growing and manipulating the embryonic precursors of avian sperm and eggs in a lab setting have been developed for only two birds: the chicken and, recently, the goose. D. T. Max, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sperm

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Middle French esperme, sperme, from Late Latin spermat-, sperma, from Greek, literally, seed, from speirein to sow; probably akin to Armenian p'aratem I dispense

Combining form

Greek sperm-, spermo-, from sperma

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

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

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Cite this Entry

“Sperm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sperm. Accessed 28 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

sperm

noun
plural sperm or sperms
1
: semen
2
: a mobile male gamete that has a long and thin or rounded head and a long thin tail that acts as a flagellum

called also spermatozoon, sperm cell

Medical Definition

sperm

noun
plural sperm or sperms
1
: the male impregnating fluid : semen
2
: a male gamete
especially : spermatozoon

More from Merriam-Webster on sperm

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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