Estrogen
/ˈɛstɹə.dʒən/noun
A group of steroid hormones that promote the development and maintenance of female reproductive tissues and secondary sex characteristics.
Did you know?The name was coined in the early 20th century from Greek roots and originally referred to hormones that induce estrus, showing how modern science often borrows ancient language to name invisible forces in the body.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
oîstros / oîstros
“gadfly; frenzy; sexual heat or ardor”
Late Latin
Latin
oestrus
“frenzy, heat, or madness; also a gadfly”
Early 20th Century
English
estrogen
“a scientific term coined for a hormone inducing estrus”
Modern English
English
estrogen
“a class of steroid hormones involved in female reproductive development and regulation”