Pheromonal

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Connected to natural chemicals secreted by an organism that evoke specific behaviors or responses in others of the same species
2. Concerning the biochemical signals discharged to modify the behavior and physiological states of others within the same species
3. Relating to the chemical signals released by individuals to trigger behavioral or physiological changes in other members of the same species

Etymology: "Pheromonal" is simply "pheromone" with the adjectival suffix "-al" attached, so it describes anything connected to pheromones. The base word itself is the key to the story. "Pheromone" was coined from Greek roots meaning roughly "to carry" and "to excite" or "to arouse," reflecting the idea that these chemicals carry a stimulus from one animal to another. The term was introduced to describe chemical signals that trigger behavior or responses in members of the same species, rather than chemicals that act within a single body like hormones. The suffix "-al" has long been used in English to turn nouns into adjectives meaning "pertaining to" or "relating to," as in "national" or "musical." Attaching it to "pheromone" produced a natural way to describe scents, glands, or behaviors linked to these signals, such as a "pheromonal trail" laid by ants.