What does spermatozoid mean?
A spermatozoid is the scientific term for an individual sperm cell. In animals, it is a motile male gamete: a specialized reproductive cell that carries paternal genetic material and can swim toward an egg, aided by a flagellum or tail. The term is used especially in zoology, embryology, and reproductive science; in ordinary contexts, sperm or sperm cell is more familiar. Although spermatozoid is precise and formal, it sometimes appears in older writing and is closely related to spermatozoon, whose plural form is spermatozoa. The word is also useful when scientific precision matters, such as describing the structure, movement, or biological role of individual sperm cells rather than the collective contents of semen. Its etymology combines the sperm- element associated with seed or male reproductive material with a suffix indicating resemblance or form.
nounA sperm cell, especially the motile male reproductive cell of an animal. A spermatozoid swims using a flagellum and normally carries the genetic material that may unite with an egg during fertilization.
- An animal sperm cell; a motile male gamete capable of fertilizing an egg.
"The spermatozoid approached the egg, propelled by the rapid movement of its flagellum."
"Each spermatozoid contains the paternal chromosomes needed to form a new embryo."
"Researchers used a high-speed microscope to record the movement of the spermatozoid."
The plural is commonly written spermatozoa; spermatozoids is also used when referring to multiple sperm cells in general scientific prose.
"The microscope showed hundreds of spermatozoa moving through the fluid."
A spermatozoid is a self-propelled delivery vehicle for DNA, equipped with a microscopic tail that can power it through fluid.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does spermatozoid come from?
Spermatozoid was formed in the 19th century from the Greek spermat- element, meaning 'seed' or 'sperm', together with the suffix -oid, associated with resemblance or form. It belongs to the same scientific vocabulary as spermatid, spermatophore, and spermatogenesis. The related older term spermatozoon combines the same sperm- element with a form meaning 'animal' and is now chiefly encountered through its plural, spermatozoa.
Related word forms
How spermatozoid is actually used
This is a technical zoological term used mainly in biology, embryology, and reproductive science. In general writing, sperm or sperm cell is more natural and accessible.
Easily confused with spermatozoid
Spermatozoid is the usual modern term for an individual sperm cell, whereas spermatozoon is an older equivalent whose plural is spermatozoa.