self-pollination

noun

self-pol·​li·​na·​tion ˌself-ˌpä-lə-ˈnā-shən 

: the transfer of pollen from the anther of a flower to the stigma of the same flower or sometimes to that of a genetically identical flower (as of the same plant or clone)

Examples of self-pollination in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Although corn is self-fertile, in small backyard plantings less than 5% of the kernels on any corn plant result from self-pollination, while the rest are the result of pollen that comes from another plant. —Joshua Siskin, Orange County Register, 20 June 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1872, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

self-pollination

noun

self-pol·​li·​na·​tion

ˌself-ˌpäl-ə-ˈnā-shən

: pollination of a flower by its own pollen or sometimes by pollen from another flower on the same plant

self-pollinate

ˈself-ˈpäl-ə-ˌnāt

verb