mammary

adjective

mam·​ma·​ry ˈma-mə-rē How to pronounce mammary (audio)
: of, relating to, lying near, or affecting the mammae

Examples of mammary in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web In April 2022, Shearer revealed to PEOPLE exclusively that she was diagnosed with invasive mammary carcinoma, an aggressive form of breast cancer. Vanessa Etienne, Peoplemag, 25 Oct. 2023 Help reveal how feline mammary cancer develops and lay the groundwork for new ways to treat it. Kate Wong, Scientific American, 1 Oct. 2018 Ectopic breast tissues can be found along the embryonic mammary ridges and can occur in the vulva. Seriously Science, Discover Magazine, 5 May 2017 Up to 57% of female Sprague Dawley rats have been shown in other studies to develop tumors, especially mammary tumors, spontaneously. Guest Blogger, Discover Magazine, 21 Sep. 2012 Shearer first revealed to PEOPLE exclusively that she was diagnosed with invasive mammary carcinoma, an aggressive form of breast cancer in April. Charmaine Patterson, Peoplemag, 3 Feb. 2023 Women who have had previous breast surgery or women who have delivered prematurely might be experiencing mammary tissue growth deficiencies. Dallas News, 18 Jan. 2023 In the mammary glands of a breastfeeding mother, milk-secreting cells package fat droplets into a unique, triple-layer membrane embedded with biologically active molecules thought to play roles in infants’ brain development and immune function. Alice Callahan, Discover Magazine, 18 Oct. 2019 Mammals are best characterized by their warm blood, mammary glands and unique birth process. Liam Gravvat, USA TODAY, 25 Nov. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'mammary.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin mammārius, from Latin mamma "breast, udder" + -ārius -ary entry 2 — more at mamma entry 1

First Known Use

1615, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of mammary was in 1615

Dictionary Entries Near mammary

Cite this Entry

“Mammary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mammary. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

mammary

adjective
mam·​ma·​ry ˈmam-ə-rē How to pronounce mammary (audio)
: of, relating to, lying near, or affecting the mammary glands

Medical Definition

mammary

1 of 2 adjective
mam·​ma·​ry ˈmam-ə-rē How to pronounce mammary (audio)
: of, relating to, lying near, or affecting the mammae

mammary

2 of 2 noun
plural mammaries

More from Merriam-Webster on mammary

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