noun · neutral

hormone

UK/ˈhɔː(r)məʊn/US/ˈhɔrmoʊn/HOR·mone

Band 7+task2speaking

a chemical produced by glands that regulates body functions

Examples

Thyroid hormones regulate metabolism and energy levels.

A hormonal imbalance can affect mood and weight.

Puberty involves large shifts in sex hormones.

Band 8 sentence

Research suggests that exposure to endocrine‑disrupting chemicals can have long‑term effects on hormone regulation across populations.

Collocations

  • hormonal imbalance
  • sex hormones
  • regulate hormones

Word family

hormonal adjectivehormone-driven adjective

Common mistakes

He has low hormone.He has low hormone levels. / He has a hormonal imbalance.

She is hormone.She has a hormonal problem. / Her hormones are imbalanced.

Say it for a higher band

5chemical in the body6gland secretion7+hormone

Synonyms

chemical messenger

Easily confused

enzyme

Enzymes speed up chemical reactions but are not hormones.

Related words

Learn this word with the rest of its set, and get reminded at the right time.

In Health & Fitness

Learn it with its set