Hormonal

/hɔrˈmoʊnəl/ adjective

Definition

Relating to or caused by hormones, which are chemical messengers in your body that control growth, mood, and many other functions.

Etymology

From 'hormone' (from Greek 'horman,' meaning 'to set in motion') plus the suffix '-al.' The term 'hormone' was coined in 1905 when scientists discovered these chemical regulators.

Kelly Says

Your hormonal system is basically your body's text-message system—instead of electricity like your nerves, hormones travel through your blood sending chemical instructions that can take hours or days to reach their destination!

Ethical Language Guidance

Gender History

Hormonal is disproportionately used to dismiss women's emotions, thoughts, and arguments as biologically irrational—especially menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause. Men's hormonal states are rarely attributed to behavior in the same dismissive way.

Inclusive Usage

Use only when discussing actual endocrine system function. Avoid as a synonym for 'emotional,' 'irrational,' or 'unreasonable,' especially when gendered.

Inclusive Alternatives

["emotional","biochemical","physiological"]

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.