: a fold of mucous membrane partly closing the orifice of the vagina

Hymen

2 of 2

noun (2)

: the Greek god of marriage

Examples of hymen in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Noun
Notwithstanding the distance into the uterus, the path is blocked by the hymen. Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 6 June 2012 Tough question — the hymen befuddles evolutionary biologists to this day. Adam Hadhazy, Discover Magazine, 23 Oct. 2014 As well as the myths propagated around the hymen, tightness too has been associated with virginity since time immemorial. Sophia Smith Galer, refinery29.com, 13 Apr. 2022 And Bonus says that report suggests that Sharon was still a virgin—the doctor wrote that her hymen was intact. CBS News, 21 May 2022 See all Example Sentences for hymen 

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Late Latin, from Greek hymēn membrane

Noun (2)

Latin, from Greek Hymēn

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1538, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1567, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hymen was in 1538

Dictionary Entries Near hymen

Cite this Entry

“Hymen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hymen. Accessed 19 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

: a fold of mucous membrane partly closing the opening of the vagina

Medical Definition

: a fold of mucous membrane partly or wholly closing the orifice of the vagina

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