pollinate

verb

pol·​li·​nate ˈpä-lə-ˌnāt How to pronounce pollinate (audio)
pollinated; pollinating

transitive verb

1
: to carry out the pollination of
2
: to mark or smudge with pollen

Examples of pollinate in a Sentence

The plants are pollinated by bees.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Bees, butterflies, moths, flies, beetles, ants and a few other insects pollinate three-quarters of the world’s flowering plants and crops. Madeline Bodin, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 June 2025 While bees and butterflies get most of the pollinator credit, ants are secondary pollinators that pollinate plants while foraging for food. Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 May 2025 The flowers are pollinated by bats and moths and produce purplish-red fruits. Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 15 June 2025 Tall sunflowers make handy natural supports for climbing vegetables and flowers, and their pollen-rich blooms entice insects to pollinate crops. Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for pollinate

Word History

First Known Use

1873, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of pollinate was in 1873

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pollinate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pollinate. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

pollinate

verb
pol·​li·​nate ˈpäl-ə-ˌnāt How to pronounce pollinate (audio)
pollinated; pollinating
: to place pollen on the stigma of

More from Merriam-Webster on pollinate

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!