spermatozoon

IPA/ˌspɜːmətəˈzəʊən/
IPA/ˌspɜːrmətəˈzəʊən/

spermatozoon — noun

  • spermatozoonsingular
  • spermatozoaplural

1. a single male reproductive cell in an animal that can swim toward an egg and joi

1.nounC1
Definition

a single male reproductive cell in an animal that can swim toward an egg and join with it.

Example

In the lab, Hao watched one spermatozoon move toward the ovum.

singular countable use in a lab context

The textbook labels each spermatozoon with a head, middle section, and tail.

parts of a spermatozoon: head, middle section, tail

Common collocations
  • human spermatozoon
  • motile spermatozoon
  • damaged spermatozoon
  • observe a spermatozoon
Synonyms
  • sperm

    the shorter and much more common word in general English

  • sperm cell

    the clearer teaching term in school or patient explanations

  • male gamete

    the most technical biology label, used in textbooks and research

Antonyms
  • ovum

    the female reproductive cell that a spermatozoon can join with

Grammar Patterns

a spermatozoon

many spermatozoa

spermatozoon + moves toward + egg

Usage Note

Mainly used in biology, medicine, and lab reports. In everyday English, people usually say 'sperm' or 'sperm cell', and the usual scientific plural is 'spermatozoa'.

Common Mistakes

The sample contained three spermatozoon.
The sample contained three spermatozoa.
Use 'spermatozoa' for the usual scientific plural.
The doctor said one spermatozoa was still moving.
The doctor said one spermatozoon was still moving.
'Spermatozoon' is singular and names one cell.

Word family

  • sperm
    nounB2
  • spermatic
    adjectiveC1
  • spermatogenesis
    nounC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

These words all refer to the same basic cell, but they differ in register and precision. Spermatozoon is the formal singular term used in biology papers, lab reports, and microscope descriptions when one individual cell is being discussed. Sperm is much more common in everyday English and can refer either to one cell or to sperm in general. Sperm cell is the clearest teaching phrase for students or patients because it feels less technical at first reading. Male gamete is the broader biology label that contrasts this cell with the female gamete, the ovum. In a clinic handout, 'sperm cell' is often easiest. In a research sentence about one cell's structure or movement, 'spermatozoon' is the more exact choice.

spermatozoon ↗sperm ↗sperm cellmale gamete

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • observe a spermatozoon
  • a spermatozoon moves toward an egg
  • identify a spermatozoon on a slide

Etymology

GreekScientific LatinEnglish

Spermatozoon was formed in scientific Latin from Greek roots meaning 'seed' and 'living creature'. English adopted it as a biology term for an individual sperm cell, which is why it sounds much more technical than the everyday word 'sperm'. The ending also explains the usual scientific plural 'spermatozoa'.

First known use

1839

1839, in the meaning defined at sense 1