pheromone

noun

pher·​o·​mone ˈfer-ə-ˌmōn How to pronounce pheromone (audio)
: a chemical substance that is usually produced by an animal and serves especially as a stimulus to other individuals of the same species for one or more behavioral responses
pheromonal adjective

Examples of pheromone in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Some worms can produce pheromones that can attract other worms toward them. Popular Science, 6 Mar. 2024 For instance, the queen sets up a colony and releases a chemical pheromone to keep her daughters as workers rather than evolving into rival queens. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 24 Jan. 2024 The researchers found that certain calming collars infused with dog appeasing pheromones showed promising results in alleviating anxiety symptoms. Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 5 Aug. 2023 There are traps available that contain a pheromone attractive to male Japanese beetles and a floral lure attractive to female beetles. Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 16 July 2022 The wafting aura emanating from this coming-of-age drama smells like a recognizable teen spirit, which resembles a cross between Axe body spray, spillage from rail-liquor shots, and pheromones. David Fear, Rolling Stone, 30 Jan. 2024 Sterile and infected patients had similar pheromone profiles until around 11 hours after injury. Elizabeth Rayne, Ars Technica, 15 Jan. 2024 Each ball was filled with cigarette filters that had been dampened with one or two drops from captive minks’ anal glands—an irresistible pheromone for wild minks following their powerful noses. Christian Thorsberg, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 Jan. 2024 Additionally, while most mammals have a second olfactory organ that is responsible for detecting pheromones, in humans, this organ is thought to be vestigial. Rachel Nuwer, Scientific American, 21 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pheromone.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Greek phérein "to carry" + -o- + -mone (in hormone) — more at bear entry 2

Note: Name introduced by the German biochemist Peter Karlson (1918-2001) and the Swiss entomologist Martin Lüscher (1917-79) in "'Pheromones': a New Term for a Class of Biologically Active Substances," Nature, vol. 183, no. 4653 (January 3, 1959), pp. 55-56: "We propose, therefore, the designation 'pheromone' for this group of active substances. The name is derived from the Greek pherein, to transfer; hormōn, to excite. Pheromones are defined as substances which are secreted to the outside by an individual and received by a second individual of the same species, in which they release a specific reaction, for example, a definite behaviour or a developmental process."

First Known Use

1959, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pheromone was in 1959

Dictionary Entries Near pheromone

Cite this Entry

“Pheromone.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pheromone. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

pheromone

noun
pher·​o·​mone ˈfer-ə-ˌmōn How to pronounce pheromone (audio)
: a chemical substance (as a scent) that is produced by an animal and serves as a signal to other individuals of the same species to engage in some kind of behavior (as mating)

Medical Definition

pheromone

noun
pher·​o·​mone ˈfer-ə-ˌmōn How to pronounce pheromone (audio)
: a chemical substance that is produced by an animal and serves especially as a stimulus to other individuals of the same species for one or more behavioral responses

called also ectohormone

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