open-pollinated

adjective

open-pol·​li·​nat·​ed ˌō-pən-ˈpä-lə-ˌnā-təd 

: pollinated by natural agencies (such as wind or insects) without human intervention

Examples of open-pollinated in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Their generations-old seeds are open-pollinated—fertilized by insects, wind, and the like—rather than being manipulated by breeders. — Emily Saladino, Bon Appetit Magazine, 19 May 2026

Reputable exchanges encourage transparency about how and when seeds were collected, whether plants were open-pollinated, and how they were stored. — Erica Browne Grivas, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Jan. 2026

Seeds are either open-pollinated or hybrids. — Clarence Schmidt, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1911, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for open-pollinated

• ameliorated
• decontaminated
• deoxygenated
• deteriorated
• differentiated
• disarticulated
• excommunicated
• incapacitated
• individuated
• misappropriated
• monounsaturated
• multinucleated