menstruation

noun

men·​stru·​a·​tion ˌmen(t)-strü-ˈwā-shən 

men-ˈstrā-

: a cyclical discharging of blood, secretions, and tissue debris from the uterus that recurs in nonpregnant breeding-age primate females at approximately monthly intervals and that is considered to represent a readjustment of the uterus to the nonpregnant state following proliferative changes accompanying the preceding ovulation

also : period sense 6c

Synonyms

• monthlies
• period

Examples of menstruation in a Sentence

a first menstruation can be somewhat scary for girls who are unprepared

Recent Examples on the Web

Many people want to physically experience pregnancy and menstruation, says Dani Ejzenberg, medical supervisor of the human reproduction unit at the Clinical Hospital of the University of São Paulo, who led the uterus transplant in a deceased donor that led to the first live birth. —Tanya Lewis, Scientific American, 23 Sep. 2024

It's often associated with using tampons during menstruation. —Vanessa Etienne, People.com, 22 Oct. 2024

If pregnancy does not occur, menstruation will take place when the luteal phase ends. —Corey Whelan, Verywell Health, 18 Sep. 2024

While iron deficiency in nonpregnant women is primarily associated with menstruation, other risk factors include diets that don’t have enough iron, as well as gut disorders, like celiac disease, that cause poor iron absorption. —Lourdes Medrano, NPR, 15 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1686, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

menstruation

noun

men·​stru·​a·​tion ˌmen(t)-strə-ˈwā-shən 

men-ˈstrā-shən

: a discharging of blood, secretions, and tissue debris from the uterus at periods of approximately one month in female primates of breeding age that are not pregnant

also : period sense 3c

Medical Definition

menstruation

noun

men·​stru·​a·​tion ˌmen(t)-strə-ˈwā-shən, men-ˈstrā- 

: a discharging of blood, secretions, and tissue debris from the uterus that recurs in nonpregnant human and other primate females of breeding age at approximately monthly intervals and that is considered to represent a readjustment of the uterus to the nonpregnant state following proliferative changes accompanying the preceding ovulation

also : period sense 1b