men

men — combining form

1. used at the start of medical words to describe something connected with the mont

1.combining formB2
Definition

used at the start of medical words to describe something connected with the monthly flow of blood from a woman's body that happens during the years she can have children.

Example

Dr. Adisa told the class that menstruation is a natural monthly process.

combining form: men- + -struation → menstruation

Sora's mother began to have hot flushes when she reached menopause.

medical term: menopause (men- + Greek pausis 'pause')

Common collocations
  • menstruation
  • menstrual
  • menopause
  • menarche
  • premenstrual

Grammar Patterns

men- + [noun root]

Usage Note

Always attached to the beginning of a word; never used alone as a separate word. Most common in medical and health contexts.

Common Mistakes

I have my men.' (meaning 'I have my period.')
I have my period.
'men-' is a combining form that must be attached to another word part (e.g., menstruation, menstrual). It is never a standalone word.

Word family

  • menstruation
    nounB2
  • menstrual
    adjectiveB2
  • menstruate
    verbB2
  • menopause
    nounB2
  • premenstrual
    adjectiveC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: combining form/1

The combining form 'men-' appears inside medical terms, while 'period' is the everyday word for the monthly bleeding itself ('She missed her period'). 'Menstrual' is the adjective form that stands alone ('menstrual pain', 'menstrual cycle'), whereas 'men-' must always join to another root. A doctor might ask about your 'menstrual history', but your friend would ask if your 'period' has started — not if your 'men-' has started.

period ↗menstrual

Etymology

GreekLatinEnglish

Comes from Greek 'mēn' meaning 'month', since menstruation follows a roughly monthly cycle. The Greek root passed into Latin medical vocabulary and then into English, where it forms words like menstruation, menopause, and menarche.