fertilizer

noun

fer·​til·​iz·​er ˈfər-tə-ˌlī-zər 

: one that fertilizes

specifically : a substance (such as manure or a chemical mixture) used to make soil more fertile

Examples of fertilizer in a Sentence

We only use organic fertilizer in our gardens.

They use chemical fertilizers on their lawn.

Recent Examples on the Web

Pivot Bio puts cotton in the nitrogen equation Pivot Bio is making its case for replacing some of cotton’s synthetic nitrogen fertilizer with crop nutrition technology that delivers nitrogen to plant roots. — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 2 Oct. 2026

This is because developing countries have less capacity to adapt to shortages of key agricultural products like fertilizer, poor harvests of maize and other staple crops, and less resilience to bounce back from extreme weather and climate events. — Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2026

Lately, state lawmakers have also handed down laws preempting local ordinances on workplace safety, cruise ships, climate goals, fertilizer, naming of airports and painting sidewalks. — Nico Rivero, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2026

Raffles Bali also takes a responsible approach to waste management, using compost fertilizer made from kitchen and landscape waste and repurposing calcium carbonate-rich eggshells from the restaurants for organic fertilizer in the herb garden. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1661, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing fertilizer

• complete fertilizer

Rhymes for fertilizer

• advertiser
• analyser
• analyzer
• appetizer
• atomizer
• breathalyzer
• colonizer
• digitizer
• equalizer
• localizer
• merchandiser
• moisturizer

Kids Definition

fertilizer

noun

fer·​til·​iz·​er ˈfərt-ᵊl-ˌī-zər 

: a substance (as manure or a chemical) used to make soil produce larger or more plant life