fertilizer

noun

fer·til·iz·er | \ ˈfər-tə-ˌlī-zər

Definition of fertilizer

: 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

Among other things, the order sets thresholds for the amount of phosphorous in the Everglades, an ingredient in fertilizer from the vast sugar-growing regions to the north that promotes unhealthy plant growth in the sprawling marsh. — Curt Anderson, The Seattle Times, "Judge won’t end decades-old Everglades cleanup oversight," 11 Feb. 2019 After fertilizing it’s important to use a garden rake to scratch up the area to work the fertilizer down into the soil. — Joseph Truini, Popular Mechanics, "How to Plant Grass Seed for a New Lawn," 23 Jan. 2019 Farmers are growing less alfalfa to feed their animals and more corn, which requires more nitrogen fertilizer. — Jesse Newman And Patrick Mcgroarty, WSJ, "Farms, More Productive Than Ever, Are Poisoning Drinking Water in Rural America," 18 Jan. 2019 Many of the chemicals used in fertilizer -- such as phosphorus and nitrogen -- reach the ocean via surface runoffs that occur after a rainstorm or hurricane. — Madeline Farber, Fox News, "Dead whale shark in Florida washes up on beach; red tide likely killer," 27 July 2018 But the balancing act is trickier, since crops also require energy inputs like fertilizer and harvesting equipment. — Umair Irfan, Vox, "Sucking CO2 out of the atmosphere, explained," 24 Oct. 2018 The bloated carcasses of hundreds of thousands of hogs, chickens and other drowned livestock bobbed in a nose-stinging soup of fecal matter, pesticides, fertilizer and gasoline so toxic that fish flopped helplessly on the surface to escape it. — Michael Biesecker, The Seattle Times, "Hurricane could flood many waste sites, creating toxic brew," 11 Sep. 2018 Your lawn will feed on the clippings, which will require less fertilizer and less waste. — Timothy Dahl, Popular Mechanics, "8 Next-Level Lawn Care Tips," 26 July 2018 Red tide is another kind of algae that can be exacerbated by fertilizers and other pollution. — Jennifer Kay, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Blue-green algae, red tide soil beaches, threaten Florida tourism," 10 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'fertilizer.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.