pollinate

verb

pol·​li·​nate ˈpä-lə-ˌnāt How to pronounce pollinate (audio)
pollinated; pollinating

transitive verb

1
: to carry out the pollination of
2
: to mark or smudge with pollen

Examples of pollinate in a Sentence

The plants are pollinated by bees.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Bumblebees do not pollinate in the manner of honeybees by carrying pollen on their bodies from flower to flower. Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 10 May 2025 These flowers not only attract bids, but they are also loved by slugs and pollinating insects. Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Apr. 2025 Why are the flowers so big if the plants are relying on flies (not so big) to pollinate them? Grrlscientist, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2025 In the case of fruit trees and bulbs, without the requisite dose of winter cold, flowers may open early when weather conditions would not be optimal for pollination or when pollinating bees and other insects would not yet be active. Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 12 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for pollinate

Word History

First Known Use

1873, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of pollinate was in 1873

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pollinate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pollinate. Accessed 20 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

pollinate

verb
pol·​li·​nate ˈpäl-ə-ˌnāt How to pronounce pollinate (audio)
pollinated; pollinating
: to place pollen on the stigma of

More from Merriam-Webster on pollinate

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