virilization

9.9

Growth of male body features in a woman because of extra male hormones

noun
/ˌvɪrɪləˈzeɪʃən/

Specialized

: virilización

The doctor explained that virilization may occur due to hormone therapy during gender transition.

Examples

Virilization in females can lead to the development of characteristics such as a deeper voice and increased body hair, typical of virilization.
Patients with obvious virilization after puberty and gender changes were also excluded.

Academic text (2018)
She sought treatment to manage her virilization symptoms, which included an increase in muscle mass.

Synonyms

masculinization

vsvirilization

Specialized

1 9.9

A female developing male physical features because of male hormones or health problems

is a neutral term for the same physical change without judging it

virilism

vsvirilization

Specialized

9.9

Growth of male features like more body hair and a deep voice in a woman or early in a boy

is broader, covering male physical changes in females beyond only secondary traits

Antonyms

feminization

Specialized

1 7.6

Body changes in a man that lead to female physical features

How Masculinized

masculinity

43 4.1

virilization

Specialized

9.9

virilism

Specialized

9.9

Surface Forms

virilization singular

virilizations plural

Morphology

virilization = virilize (semi-transparent) = viril + ize + ation

Formed from 'viril(е)' -> 'virilize' -> 'virilization' in a regular way, but the combining form 'viril-' and the medical usage may be unfamiliar to average learners.

Etymology

Virilization comes from the Latin root vir- meaning 'man' and the ending -ization meaning a process. The same root appears in the word virile ('manly'), so virilization is the process of becoming more 'man-like', which is why doctors use it for the development of male traits in a woman.