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Definition of pheromone

pheromone

/ˈfɛr.əˌmoʊn/
pher · o · mone
Adverb:pheromonally
•
Plural:pheromones
•
Adjective:pheromonal
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pheromone Lexical Profile

pheromone Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A chemical substance produced and released into the environment by an animal, especially a mammal or an insect, affecting the behavior or physiology of others of its species.

Example

"Worker ants lay down a trail of pheromones to guide other members of the colony to a newly discovered food source."

Word Nuance & Usage

While hormones act internally within a single organism to regulate physiological functions, pheromones are secreted externally to trigger behavioral or physiological responses in other members of the same species.

• Nearby Words

phenomenal
phenomenally
phenomenon
pheromone
phew
phi
phial

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in 1959 by German biochemist Peter Karlson and Swiss entomologist Martin Lüscher from the Ancient Greek 'pherein' (to carry or bear) and the ending of 'hormone' (from Greek 'hormōn', meaning setting in motion).

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Pheromone. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/pheromone
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