con·tra·cep·tive
ˌkän-trə-ˈsep-tiv 
plural contraceptives
: a device or preparation that is designed to prevent conception
especially
: a device or preparation (such as an IUD or birth control pill) that typically contains progestin either alone or in combination with estrogen and that prevents ovulation, thickens cervical mucus, or thins the uterine lining in order to prevent conception
Hormonal contraceptives … sometimes cause midcycle bleeding or missed periods, while IUDs can lead to heavy monthly bleeding. —
Stacey Colino
Stacey Colino A progestin-based contraceptive composed of six matchstick-size capsules that are placed under the skin of a woman's arm for up to five years … —Ms. Magazine
see also oral contraceptive compare contraception sense 2
Ms. Magazine
: of, relating to, or involving the deliberate prevention of conception or pregnancy
… contraceptive pills/implants
Breast-feeding should have a contraceptive effect, since it lowers prolactin levels in the blood.—Sue Rodwell Williams
Sue Rodwell WilliamsMoreover, there is also evidence that certain substances in neem seeds may have contraceptive value.—Boyce Rensberger
Boyce RensbergerExamples of contraceptive in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the WebKatherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 3 Apr. 2024
Much of that support disintegrated after Republican lawmakers accepted, and then quickly rejected, an effort to broaden the bill to criminalize other forms of reproductive coercion – including abusive control of a woman’s contraceptives.
—Jenna Barackman, Kansas City Star, 1 Apr. 2024
No known cure for PCOS Doctors recommend hormonal contraceptives — most commonly the birth control pill — to regulate heavy, irregular periods;, acne;, and unwanted hair growth.
—Caroline Hopkins, NBC News, 31 Mar. 2024
The researchers followed women using different types of synthetic forms of the hormone progesterone, commonly used to treat a variety of gynecological conditions such as endometriosis, PCOS, menopausal hormone therapy and in some contraceptives.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2024
But a Republican lawmaker shared in late February that Indiana Right to Life lobbied for IUDs, contraceptives placed in the uterus, to be carved out of the bill, due to unfounded claims that IUDs causeabortions.
—Brittany Carloni, The Indianapolis Star, 21 Mar. 2024
The widespread, unquestioned use of hormonal contraceptives deserves more serious thought.
—Kayla Bartsch, National Review, 28 Jan. 2024
Since the 1988 Seoul Olympics, organizers have handed out contraceptives to spread awareness of HIV and AIDS, CBS Sports reported.
—Charlotte Phillipp, Peoplemag, 18 Mar. 2024
The Grammy-winner's team has reversed course on a plan to distribute contraceptives during her Guts Tour, Variety reports.
—Lester Fabian Brathwaite, EW.com, 17 Mar. 2024
Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 3 Apr. 2024
The team is currently testing the contraceptive method in rabbits.
—Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 22 Mar. 2024
That means the contraceptive debate and struggle over progress on reproductive healthcare is likely to return to the Statehouse next year.
—Brittany Carloni, The Indianapolis Star, 21 Mar. 2024
Religious belief, in general, does not significantly alter an American’s stance on contraceptive use.
—Kayla Bartsch, National Review, 4 Feb. 2024
The pill is one of the most popular forms of birth control—in 2018, about 20 percent of contraceptive users ages 15 to 49 were taking a pill.
—Margaret Osborne, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 July 2023
The GOP foiled a surprise Democratic bid to protect contraceptive rights in Arizona.
—USA TODAY, 14 Mar. 2024
This can range from hormonal conditions to contraceptive methods to life changes.
—Christin Perry, Parents, 3 Oct. 2023
However, patients should also contact their healthcare provider, OB-GYN, or whoever prescribed them the pills as soon as possible for advice regarding other contraceptive methods, Swarup added.
—Alyssa Hui, Verywell Health, 11 Aug. 2023
Noun
Many female hormonal contraceptives, meanwhile, rely on a synthetic compound called ethinylestradiol that incompletely mimics the estrogen women’s bodies make—and appears to raise the risk of blood clots.
—Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 3 Apr. 2024
Much of that support disintegrated after Republican lawmakers accepted, and then quickly rejected, an effort to broaden the bill to criminalize other forms of reproductive coercion – including abusive control of a woman’s contraceptives.
—Jenna Barackman, Kansas City Star, 1 Apr. 2024
No known cure for PCOS Doctors recommend hormonal contraceptives — most commonly the birth control pill — to regulate heavy, irregular periods;, acne;, and unwanted hair growth.
—Caroline Hopkins, NBC News, 31 Mar. 2024
The researchers followed women using different types of synthetic forms of the hormone progesterone, commonly used to treat a variety of gynecological conditions such as endometriosis, PCOS, menopausal hormone therapy and in some contraceptives.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2024
But a Republican lawmaker shared in late February that Indiana Right to Life lobbied for IUDs, contraceptives placed in the uterus, to be carved out of the bill, due to unfounded claims that IUDs causeabortions.
—Brittany Carloni, The Indianapolis Star, 21 Mar. 2024
The widespread, unquestioned use of hormonal contraceptives deserves more serious thought.
—Kayla Bartsch, National Review, 28 Jan. 2024
Since the 1988 Seoul Olympics, organizers have handed out contraceptives to spread awareness of HIV and AIDS, CBS Sports reported.
—Charlotte Phillipp, Peoplemag, 18 Mar. 2024
The Grammy-winner's team has reversed course on a plan to distribute contraceptives during her Guts Tour, Variety reports.
—Lester Fabian Brathwaite, EW.com, 17 Mar. 2024
Adjective
With all the attention now being paid to men’s contraceptive preferences, some researchers worry that women’s needs will fall even further to the wayside.
—Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 3 Apr. 2024
The team is currently testing the contraceptive method in rabbits.
—Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 22 Mar. 2024
That means the contraceptive debate and struggle over progress on reproductive healthcare is likely to return to the Statehouse next year.
—Brittany Carloni, The Indianapolis Star, 21 Mar. 2024
Religious belief, in general, does not significantly alter an American’s stance on contraceptive use.
—Kayla Bartsch, National Review, 4 Feb. 2024
The pill is one of the most popular forms of birth control—in 2018, about 20 percent of contraceptive users ages 15 to 49 were taking a pill.
—Margaret Osborne, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 July 2023
The GOP foiled a surprise Democratic bid to protect contraceptive rights in Arizona.
—USA TODAY, 14 Mar. 2024
This can range from hormonal conditions to contraceptive methods to life changes.
—Christin Perry, Parents, 3 Oct. 2023
However, patients should also contact their healthcare provider, OB-GYN, or whoever prescribed them the pills as soon as possible for advice regarding other contraceptive methods, Swarup added.
—Alyssa Hui, Verywell Health, 11 Aug. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'contraceptive.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near contraceptive
Cite this Entry
“Contraceptive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/contraceptive. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
contraceptive
1 of 2 noun
con·tra·cep·tive
ˌkän-trə-ˈsep-tiv
: a device or preparation (such as an IUD or birth control pill) that typically contains progestin either alone or in combination with estrogen and that prevents ovulation, thickens cervical mucus, or thins the uterine lining in order to prevent conception
… contraceptives were classified as combination contraceptives if they included estrogen and progestin in each cycle … and as progestin-only contraceptives if they contained only progestin throughout the cycle.—Polly A. Marchbanks et al., The New England Journal of Medicine
Polly A. Marchbanks et al., The New England Journal of MedicineHormonal contraceptives … are frequently used by athletes to treat … MI [=menstrual irregularity], reduce menstrual symptoms (e.g., bloating, cramping), and reduce conditions secondary to excessive monthly blood loss, as well as for birth control.—Jennifer Cheng et al., American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitiation
see also oral contraceptive compare contraception sense 2
Jennifer Cheng et al., American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitiationcontraceptive
2 of 2 adjective
: of, relating to, or involving the deliberate prevention of conception or pregnancy
contraceptive devices
contraceptive efficacy
see also contraceptive pill, intrauterine contraceptive device
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