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

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

Word History

First Known Use

1882, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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