ovary

noun

ova·​ry ˈō-və-rē How to pronounce ovary (audio)
ˈōv-rē
plural ovaries
1
: one of the typically paired essential female reproductive organs that produce eggs and in vertebrates female sex hormones
2
: the enlarged rounded usually basal portion of the pistil or gynoecium of an angiospermous plant that bears the ovules and consists of one or more carpels see flower illustration

Examples of ovary in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
On choosing surgical menopause In addition to a double mastectomy, Munn opted for an oophorectomy to remove her ovaries, plus had her fallopian tubes and uterus removed as well. — Kara McGrath, Allure, 1 Sep. 2026 Egg freezing is a fertility-preservation procedure in which eggs are retrieved from the ovaries, frozen and stored for possible future use. — Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026 Per the Mayo Clinic, endometriosis is a condition in which tissue similar to the inner lining of the uterus grows elsewhere in the body, often affecting the ovaries, fallopian tubes and the tissue lining the pelvis. — Adam England, PEOPLE, 25 Aug. 2026 Researchers also couldn’t distinguish between different types of surgical menopause, such as removal of both ovaries versus hysterectomy with the ovaries left in place. — Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 25 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for ovary

Word History

Etymology

New Latin ovarium, from Latin ovum egg

First Known Use

1658, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of ovary was in 1658

Phrases Containing ovary

Browse Nearby Words

ovarium
ovary
ovate
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Ovary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ovary. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

ovary

noun
ova·​ry ˈōv-(ə-)rē How to pronounce ovary (audio)
plural ovaries
1
: one of the usually paired organs in the body of female animals that produces eggs and that in female vertebrates also produces sex hormones
2
: the enlarged rounded lower part of the pistil of a flower in which seeds are formed

Medical Definition

ovary

noun
ova·​ry ˈōv-(ə-)rē How to pronounce ovary (audio)
plural ovaries
1
: one of the typically paired essential female reproductive organs that in vertebrates produce eggs and female sex hormones, that occur in the adult human as oval-shaped flattened bodies about one-and-a-half inches (four centimeters) long suspended from the dorsal surface of the broad ligament of either side, that arise from the mesonephros, and that consist of a vascular fibrous stroma enclosing developing egg cells
2
: the female reproductive structure of an angiosperm that bears ovules and is enclosed in a flower

More from Merriam-Webster on ovary

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about ovary

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