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

One opponent, an evangelical nonprofit called Liberty Counsel, pointed to an Alabama Supreme Court ruling that determined frozen embryos used for in vitro fertilization were people under Alabama’s Constitution. —Romy Ellenbogen, Miami Herald, 2 Apr. 2024

Congress: House Republicans support in vitro fertilization but are divided on how to protect access to it. —Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 15 Mar. 2024

In vitro fertilization: Senate Bills 301 and373;House Bill 757 After in vitro fertilization (IVF) gained national attention due to a recent Alabama Supreme Court decision, three Kentucky lawmakers introduced bills to protect IVF access. —Rebecca Grapevine, The Courier-Journal, 26 Mar. 2024

Protections for in vitro fertilization aren’t expected to be among the list of accomplished laws this legislative session in Idaho, Democrats said Friday. —Ian Max Stevenson, Idaho Statesman, 23 Mar. 2024

Kelly's strategy was duplicated in Alabama after the state's Supreme Court there sparked a national debate over in vitro fertilization with a February decision that said frozen embryos were children under state law. —Tal Axelrod, ABC News, 21 Mar. 2024

In August 2020, Wiig spoke to InStyle about the challenges of undergoing in vitro fertilization with Rothman. —Andrea Park, Peoplemag, 21 Mar. 2024

Secular tailwinds supporting these investments include data that shows mothers are having their first child at an older age than past generations and that more LGBTQ+ parents are turning to in vitro fertilization to have children. —Byjohn Kell, Fortune, 19 Mar. 2024

Misconceptions about in-vitro fertilization (IVF) are running rampant. —Hannah Yasharoff, USA TODAY, 13 Mar. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1787, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing fertilization

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

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