inseminate

verb

in·​sem·​i·​nate in-ˈse-mə-ˌnāt 

inseminated; inseminating

transitive verb

1

: sow

2

: to introduce semen into the genital tract of (a female)

insemination

in-ˌse-mə-ˈnā-shən 

noun

Synonyms

• breed
• enroot
• implant
• inculcate
• infix
• instill
• plant
• sow

Choose the Right Synonym for inseminate

implant, inculcate, instill, inseminate, infix mean to introduce into the mind.

implant implies teaching that makes for permanence of what is taught.

implanted a love of reading in her students

inculcate implies persistent or repeated efforts to impress on the mind.

tried to inculcate in him high moral standards

instill stresses gradual, gentle imparting of knowledge over a long period of time.

instill traditional values in your children

inseminate applies to a sowing of ideas in many minds so that they spread through a class or nation.

inseminated an unquestioning faith in technology

infix stresses firmly inculcating a habit of thought.

infixed a chronic cynicism

Examples of inseminate in a Sentence

She was artificially inseminated in January.

the notion that their monarch ruled by divine right had been inseminated in the people for countless generations

Recent Examples on the Web

Throughout his career, Cline covertly inseminated dozens of patients with his sperm. —Ryan Murphy, The Indianapolis Star, 18 Dec. 2024

The dairy business model depends on artificially inseminating cows and separating them from their calves at birth so humans can take their milk. —Marina Bolotnikova, Vox, 2 Nov. 2024

In the early 2000s, zoos in the U.S. developed a technique to artificially inseminate pandas instead. —Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY, 15 Oct. 2024

Steeped in evolution, natural selection has favored males who inseminate the most females – and females who leave reproductive offspring of their own. —Discover Magazine, 5 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin inseminatus, past participle of inseminare, from in- + semin-, semen seed — more at semen

First Known Use

circa 1623, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

inseminate

verb

in·​sem·​i·​nate in-ˈsem-ə-ˌnāt 

inseminated; inseminating

: to introduce semen into the genital tract of (a female)

insemination

-ˌsem-ə-ˈnā-shən 

noun

Medical Definition

inseminate

transitive verb

in·​sem·​i·​nate in-ˈsem-ə-ˌnāt 

inseminated; inseminating

: to introduce semen into the genital tract of (a female)

insemination

-ˌsem-ə-ˈnā-shən 

noun