menses

M3E1N1S1E1S1
/ˈmɛn.siːz/

noun

The discharge of blood and cellular tissue that flows from the inner lining of the uterus out through the vagina, occurring typically once a month in uninseminated women; a menstrual flow.

Similar
menstruationmenstruumcatameniaperiodflow
OriginLatin mēnsis →
UncommonScrabble 8
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Meanings

nounmenses pl (plural only)
  1. pluralplural onlyThe discharge of blood and cellular tissue that flows from the inner lining of the uterus out through the vagina, occurring typically once a month in uninseminated women; a menstrual flow.

    Synonyms: menstruation

Synonyms & antonyms

nounThe discharge of blood and cellular tissue that flows from the inner lining of the uterus out through the vagina, occurring typically once a month in uninseminated women; a menstrual flow.

Similar
menstruation

More synonyms by meaning

nounthe monthly discharge of blood from the uterus of nonpregnant women from puberty to menopause

Similar
menstruationmenstruumcatameniaperiodflow
Broader
dischargeemissionexpelling
Also see
catameniaflowmenstruationmenstruumperiod

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Latinmēnsis“month”
  2. Englishmenses

From Latin mēnsis (“month”), the plural being mēnsēs (“months”), corresponding to the approximately month-long span of the menstrual cycle. Compare month.

More words from Latin

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Ancient Greek ἄφεδρος
  • ἄφεδρος (áphedros)menstrual flow
Bulgarian менструация
  • менструация (menstruacija)menstrual flow
Chinese Mandarin 月經 /月经, 經血 /经血
  • 月經 /月经 (yuèjīng)menstrual flow
  • 經血 /经血 (jīngxuè)menstrual flow
Dutch menstruatie
  • menstruatiemenstrual flow
Finnish kuukautisvuoto, kuukautiset
  • kuukautisvuotomenstrual flow
  • kuukautisetmenstrual flow
French règles, menstruations
  • règlesmenstrual flow
  • menstruationsmenstrual flow
  • menstruesmenstrual flow
Greek έμμηνα, καταμήνια
  • έμμηνα (émmina)menstrual flow
  • καταμήνια (katamínia)menstrual flow
Hawaiian kahe
  • kahemenstrual flow
Hindi पुष्प, रज
  • पुष्प (puṣp)menstrual flow
  • रज (raj)menstrual flow
Italian mestruazioni
  • mestruazionimenstrual flow
Japanese 月経血, メンス
  • 月経血 (gekkeichi)menstrual flow
  • メンス (mensu)menstrual flow
Latin menstruum
  • menstruummenstrual flow
Māori totorewa, mate marama
  • totorewamenstrual flow
  • mate maramamenstrual flow
  • tahemenstrual flow
Polish krwawienie miesięczne
  • krwawienie miesięcznemenstrual flow
Spanish menstruo, menstruación
  • menstruomenstrual flow
  • menstruaciónmenstrual flow

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

meness
Cite this entry
APA

menses. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/menses

MLA

“menses.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/menses. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “menses,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/menses.

Source: menses on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.