fertilizer

noun

fer·​til·​iz·​er ˈfər-tə-ˌlī-zər 

: one that fertilizes

specifically : a substance (such as manure or a chemical mixture) used to make soil more fertile

Examples of fertilizer in a Sentence

We only use organic fertilizer in our gardens.

They use chemical fertilizers on their lawn.

Recent Examples on the Web

While 10-10-10 is a balanced or general-purpose fertilizer, its uses are no different from those of other fertilizers with the same ratio. —Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Mar. 2025

Farmers saw it as a supercharged fertilizer, while chemists viewed it as the lifeblood of black powder. —Scott Travers, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025

The salt on land is mostly coming from wastewater, fertilizers, resource extraction, and road salt. —Ars Technica, 19 Mar. 2025

When fertilizing a bearded iris, apply the fertilizer around the rhizome cluster, not directly on it. —Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 19 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1661, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing fertilizer

• complete fertilizer

Rhymes for fertilizer

• advertiser
• analyser
• analyzer
• appetizer
• atomizer
• breathalyzer
• colonizer
• crystallizer
• digitizer
• equalizer
• localizer
• merchandiser

Kids Definition

fertilizer

noun

fer·​til·​iz·​er ˈfərt-ᵊl-ˌī-zər 

: a substance (as manure or a chemical) used to make soil produce larger or more plant life