sperm

1 of 2

noun

ˈspərm 

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

Noun

Obesity may also raise the risk of problems with sperm and ejaculation.7 Causes of Infertility Factors in the female partner cause about one-third of all infertility cases, and factors in the male partner cause another third. —Carrie Madormo, Verywell Health, 16 Aug. 2025

However, IUDs primarily work by suppressing the release of eggs, or by preventing sperm from reaching an egg. —Lauren Kent, CNN Money, 29 July 2025

The answer, which the students also gleaned from slides of the case study’s sperm sample, was no, the man shouldn’t wear constrictive clothing, nor keep exercising at such high intensity and taking high doses of Omega-3 fatty acids and nitrous oxide boosters. —Michelle L. Quinn, Chicago Tribune, 17 July 2025

In those cases, using the new technique, the U.K. doctors first fertilize the mother’s egg with the father’s sperm. —Nancy Lapid, USA Today, 17 July 2025

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

Phrases Containing sperm

• sperm bank
• sperm cell
• sperm count
• sperm donor
• sperm nucleus
• sperm oil
• sperm whale

Rhymes for sperm

• berm
• ferm
• firm
• germ
• herm
• squirm
• term
• therm
• worm
• wurm
• affirm
• bookworm

Kids Definition

sperm

noun

ˈspərm 

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

ˈspərm 

plural sperm or sperms

1

: the male impregnating fluid : semen

2

: a male gamete

especially : spermatozoon