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 When ordering your pawpaws, be sure to plant two or more selections to ensure cross-pollination of the different pawpaw trees. Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 10 Sep. 2023 This fall, the British singer, songwriter, and producer, known for his wildly original cross-pollination of genres, will release Lahai, his first solo project since 2017’s Process, featuring a mix of West African folk, jungle, classical, and soul music. Ariana Marsh, Harper's BAZAAR, 25 Aug. 2023 Long before the narrative overcrowding of cross-pollination, composite timelines and the damn multiverse brought fatigue to the modern comic-book superhero adventure, those movies had freshness and a buoyant sense of fun. David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Aug. 2023 The cross-pollination has spawned a similar blueprint. Jorge Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 10 Aug. 2023 Such cross-pollination of ideas among diverse hackathon participants -- who may not speak the same tongue but who do understand the same code -- unleashes new creative energies. Hilary Tetenbaum, USA TODAY, 8 Aug. 2023 For David Weiss, an American designer who sees a revolution in the making, a cross-pollination of ideas is essential. Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 29 July 2023 From Moore’s property in Montauk, New York, to Weiwei’s garden in Montemor-o-Novo, Portugal, the collection allowed for cross-pollination not just of plants and flowers, but ideas and people, too. Kristin Limoges, Harper's BAZAAR, 12 July 2023 There’s so much cross-pollination between scenes, a lot of different people playing on each other’s records and sitting in with each other. Simon Vozick-Levinson, Rolling Stone, 28 June 2023 See More

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 1 Oct. 2023.

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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