cross-pollination

noun

cross-pol·​li·​na·​tion ˌkrȯs-ˌpä-lə-ˈnā-shən How to pronounce cross-pollination (audio)
1
: the transfer of pollen from one flower to the stigma of another
2
: cross-fertilization sense 2
cross-pollination of fantasy and realism

Examples of cross-pollination in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Pecans need cross-pollination between a compatible pair of cultivars to produce a crop. Miri Talabac, Baltimore Sun, 18 Jan. 2024 The effect of all that creative cross-pollination is awesome; every moment bursts with color, texture, humor, movement. Marley Marius, Vogue, 16 Jan. 2024 Great for eating fresh and baking, this apple type came to exist thanks to a humble Minnesota honeybee's path during natural cross-pollination. Katlyn Moncada, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Dec. 2023 Leaders must never lose track of key performance indices, such as vision sharing, team bonding, cross-pollination of ideas, derivation of learnings, improvement of workplace culture, client relations or customer experience, etc. Abiola Salami, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2023 The synergistic wealth strategy encourages family offices to adopt a proactive lens, seeking out potential synergies and cross-pollination opportunities. Ian Wilding, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2023 Webb sees potential not only for sowing and reaping but for cross-pollination as well. Frank E. Lockwood, Arkansas Online, 4 Nov. 2023 Apples grow naturally with cross-pollination — meaning wind or bees transfer pollen from one apple plant to the blossoms on another. Sydney Page, Washington Post, 4 Nov. 2023 So, there's been cross-pollination through the years. Andrea Lavinthal, Peoplemag, 29 Sep. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cross-pollination.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1882, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of cross-pollination was in 1882

Dictionary Entries Near cross-pollination

Cite this Entry

“Cross-pollination.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cross-pollination. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

cross-pollination

noun
cross-pol·​li·​na·​tion
ˌkrȯ-ˌspäl-ə-ˈnā-shən
: the transfer of pollen from one flower to the stigma of another

More from Merriam-Webster on cross-pollination

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