fertilization

noun

fer·​til·​i·​za·​tion ˌfər-tə-lə-ˈzā-shən 

: an act or process of making fertile: such as

a

: the application of fertilizer

b(1)

: an act or process of fecundation, insemination, or pollination

—not used technically

(2)

: the process of union of two gametes whereby the somatic chromosome number is restored and the development of a new individual is initiated

Examples of fertilization in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

And, for mammals, the amount of indirect metabolic energy expended during reproduction composes about 90% of the total energy used in the process from fertilization to birth. —Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 16 May 2024

With a strongly female perspective, the film takes a deep dive into mother-daughter relations and in-vitro fertilization. —Patrick Frater, Variety, 15 May 2024

An acrimonious divorce between a Texas couple fighting over their frozen embryos could end up having an impact on in vitro fertilization care in the entire state, and possibly a replay of the controversial court decision in Alabama that briefly ended IVF access in the state. —Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 14 May 2024

In vitro fertilization under fire Earlier this year, the Alabama Supreme Court issued a ruling that suggested that embryos should have the same rights as children. —Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 10 May 2024

The pulse of pollination The flora and the fauna of the world rely on pollination, or the art of flower fertilization. —Gabriela Riccardi, Quartz, 8 May 2024

In this Vanity Fair story, Keziah Weir recounts how the Vatican played a role in the science of in vitro fertilization. —Cheri Lucas Rowlands, Longreads, 1 May 2024

If fertility is the issue, treatments like ovulation-inducing medications or in vitro fertilization (IVF) can help. —Julia Sullivan, SELF, 18 Apr. 2024

People can choose the gender of their baby with in vitro fertilization (IVF). —Wendy Wisner, Health, 16 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1787, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing fertilization

• cross-fertilization
• double fertilization
• fertilization membrane
• in vitro fertilization
• self-fertilization

Kids Definition

fertilization

noun

fer·​til·​i·​za·​tion ˌfərt-ᵊl-ə-ˈzā-shən 

1

: an act or process of making fertile

especially : the application of fertilizer

2

: the union of male and female germ cells to form a zygote

Medical Definition

fertilization

noun

fer·​til·​iza·​tion

variants or British fertilisation

ˌfərt-ᵊl-ə-ˈzā-shən 

: an act or process of making fertile: as

a

: an act or process of fecundation, insemination, or impregnation

b

: the process of union of two gametes whereby the somatic chromosome number is restored and the development of a new individual is initiated

fertilize transitive verb

or British fertilise

ˈfərt-ᵊl-ˌīz 

fertilized or British fertilised; fertilizing or British fertilising