cross-pollination

noun

cross-pol·​li·​na·​tion ˌkrȯs-ˌpä-lə-ˈnā-shən 

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

And then, the cross-pollination came to an abrupt stop. — Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 24 June 2026

The closest parallel to the AI investor cross-pollination may come from about a decade ago. — Paresh Dave, Wired News, 5 June 2026

The main thread initially was this idea of cross-pollination in terms of geography and chronology. — Peter Larsen, Daily News, 27 May 2026

The cross-pollination Hastings romanticizes is what these places have quietly been built around for decades. — Jamie Beaton, Forbes.com, 12 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1882, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for cross-pollination

• abbreviation
• abomination
• acceleration
• accentuation
• accommodation
• accreditation
• acculturation
• accumulation
• acetylation
• adjudication
• administration
• adulteration

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