melatonin
noun
mel·a·to·nin
ˌme-lə-ˈtō-nən 
: a vertebrate hormone that is derived from serotonin, is secreted by the pineal gland especially in response to darkness, and has been linked to the regulation of circadian rhythms
Examples of melatonin in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
But tart cherries and tart cherry juice contain far less melatonin than your typical over-the-counter sleep aids.
—
Maggie O'Neill, Health, 20 Jan. 2024
Blue light at night can suppress melatonin secretion and shift circadian rhythms much more so than white light.
—Mira Miller, Verywell Health, 4 Jan. 2024
One study found that those who ate diets low in omega-3s showed weaker secretions of melatonin, which resulted in disturbed sleep patterns.
—Georgia Day, Glamour, 12 Mar. 2024
The study's authors noted that the spike in usage is concerning because bottles of melatonin may have far higher amounts of the drug than what the label indicates.
—Erin Clack, Peoplemag, 10 Mar. 2024
The use of melatonin by US adults soared since the early 2000s, the CDC noted.
—Amanda Musa, CNN, 7 Mar. 2024
The authors noted that melatonin does not require child-resistant packaging, but such packaging can be voluntarily implemented.
—Erin Clack, Peoplemag, 10 Mar. 2024
Conversely, evenings with more light may delay your body's production of the hormone melatonin, which promotes sleep.
—USA TODAY, 9 Mar. 2024
As the sun sets in the evening, the diminishing light triggers the body to produce melatonin, the sleep hormone.
—Adria Greenhauff, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Mar. 2024
Maggie O'Neill, Health, 20 Jan. 2024
Blue light at night can suppress melatonin secretion and shift circadian rhythms much more so than white light.
—Mira Miller, Verywell Health, 4 Jan. 2024
One study found that those who ate diets low in omega-3s showed weaker secretions of melatonin, which resulted in disturbed sleep patterns.
—Georgia Day, Glamour, 12 Mar. 2024
The study's authors noted that the spike in usage is concerning because bottles of melatonin may have far higher amounts of the drug than what the label indicates.
—Erin Clack, Peoplemag, 10 Mar. 2024
The use of melatonin by US adults soared since the early 2000s, the CDC noted.
—Amanda Musa, CNN, 7 Mar. 2024
The authors noted that melatonin does not require child-resistant packaging, but such packaging can be voluntarily implemented.
—Erin Clack, Peoplemag, 10 Mar. 2024
Conversely, evenings with more light may delay your body's production of the hormone melatonin, which promotes sleep.
—USA TODAY, 9 Mar. 2024
As the sun sets in the evening, the diminishing light triggers the body to produce melatonin, the sleep hormone.
—Adria Greenhauff, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'melatonin.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near melatonin
Cite this Entry
“Melatonin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/melatonin. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
melatonin
noun
mel·a·to·nin
ˌmel-ə-ˈtō-nən
: a hormone that is secreted by the pineal gland especially in response to darkness and has been linked to the regulation of bodily functions or activities (as sleep) that occur in approximately 24 hour cycles
Medical Definition
melatonin
noun
mel·a·to·nin
ˌmel-ə-ˈtō-nən
: a vertebrate hormone C13H16N2O2 that is derived from serotonin, is secreted by the pineal gland especially in response to darkness, and has been linked to the regulation of circadian rhythms
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share