What does ovary mean?
An ovary is, in human and animal biology, the female reproductive gland that produces ova and releases hormones such as estrogen and progesterone. Usually, a person has two ovaries, although their number, size, and function can vary in some species. The term also has a botanical meaning: it refers to the enlarged base of a flower’s pistil, where the ovules are contained and where the fruit may develop after fertilization. Ovarian cycle, ovarian cancer, and ovarian follicle are common related expressions. Because the word derives from the Latin word for egg, ovary belongs to a family including ovum and ovule. Knowing both meanings of the term helps distinguish animal reproduction from the reproductive structures of flowering plants.
nounA female reproductive gland that produces ova, or eggs, and secretes reproductive hormones such as estrogen and progesterone. In botany, an ovary is the enlarged basal part of a flower’s pistil that contains the ovules.
- An anatomical female reproductive gland that produces ova and releases hormones involved in reproduction and the menstrual cycle.
- The swollen basal portion of a flower’s pistil, containing one or more ovules and developing into the fruit after fertilization.
"The surgeon removed the affected ovary while preserving the other reproductive organs."
"Hormonal treatment can affect the function of the ovaries and the timing of ovulation."
"After pollination, the flower’s ovary usually develops into the fruit."
The standard plural of ovary is ovaries.
"The ultrasound showed both ovaries and their follicles."
The word ovary comes from the same Latin root as ovum, the formal word for an egg.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does ovary come from?
English ovary comes through Latin ovarium, a term associated with ovum, meaning “egg.” The botanical sense was established in the development of modern botanical terminology, while the anatomical sense developed in comparative biology and medicine. Related English words include ovum, the formal term for an egg, ovule, the structure in a plant ovary that can develop into a seed, and oviparous, meaning egg-laying.
Related word forms
How ovary is actually used
In medical and biological contexts, ovary is standard. The botanical sense is common in descriptions of flowers and plant reproduction. The plural is ovaries.