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
During an episode of the podcast Postcards from Midlife with Lorraine Candy and Trish Halpin, Tana, 49, opened up about her pregnancies and experience with in vitro fertilization (IVF).
—
Antonia Debianchi, Peoplemag, 10 July 2024
Last month, Senate Democrats attempted to vote on legislation to protect access to contraception and in vitro fertilization treatments.
—Nathaniel Weixel, The Hill, 9 July 2024
The couple, who married in 2016, plans to undergo in vitro fertilization with a surrogate, Bunnie, 44, revealed.
—Kimi Robinson, USA TODAY, 4 July 2024
Other reproductive news in the state: Alabama shook the reproductive rights community in February when the state Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos created through in vitro fertilization should be treated legally as children.
—Kinsey Crowley, The Courier-Journal, 24 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for fertilization 
Antonia Debianchi, Peoplemag, 10 July 2024
Last month, Senate Democrats attempted to vote on legislation to protect access to contraception and in vitro fertilization treatments.
—Nathaniel Weixel, The Hill, 9 July 2024
The couple, who married in 2016, plans to undergo in vitro fertilization with a surrogate, Bunnie, 44, revealed.
—Kimi Robinson, USA TODAY, 4 July 2024
Other reproductive news in the state: Alabama shook the reproductive rights community in February when the state Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos created through in vitro fertilization should be treated legally as children.
—Kinsey Crowley, The Courier-Journal, 24 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for fertilization
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fertilization.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near fertilization
Cite this Entry
“Fertilization.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fertilization. Accessed 27 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationKids 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
: 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
fertilized or British fertilised; fertilizing or British fertilising
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