Androgen
/ˈæn.drə.dʒən/noun
A male sex hormone, such as testosterone, that promotes masculine traits.
Did you know?The root *andr-* also appears in words like *android* and *androgynous*, all carrying the old Greek idea of ‘man’ at the core.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
anḗr / andr-
“man, male human”
Ancient Greek
Greek
-genēs
“born of, produced by”
Modern scientific Latin
Latin
androgenum
“a substance producing male characteristics”
19th Century
English
androgen
“a term coined in scientific usage for a male sex hormone”
Modern English
English
androgen
“a male sex hormone, especially testosterone and related hormones”