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

This can include scratching granular fertilizer into the soil around the base of your plants, watering with compost tea or fish emulsion, or top dressing with a fresh layer of compost—just be sure to pay attention to the specific needs of the different plants in your garden. —Mike Irvine, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 June 2025

After a year of good growth apply the same fertilizer in February, May and late August at the rate of 5 ounces per plant. —Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 21 June 2025

Apply a balanced fertilizer during the growing season, not when the lawn is dormant, for stronger grass that resists diseases. —Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 20 June 2025

To prevent blossom-end rot through fertilization practices, apply fertilizer as recommended by a soil test and apply nitrogen fertilizers in the form of nitrate, rather than ammonium. —Nora Doonan, Hartford Courant, 14 June 2025

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
• crystallizer
• digitizer
• equalizer
• localizer
• merchandiser

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