pollinate

verb

pol·​li·​nate ˈpä-lə-ˌnāt 

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

The additional colonies are expected to boost annual honey production by about 30 pounds while helping pollinate the White House Kitchen Garden, Flower Cutting Garden and vegetation on the National Mall. —Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026

Funded through the Trust for the National Mall, the installation will support the existing colonies in pollinating the nearby White House Kitchen Garden, Flower Cutting Garden and vegetation on the National Mall. —Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 24 Apr. 2026

The bees help pollinate a nearby produce garden that then-first lady Michelle Obama started in 2009 and a nearby flower cutting garden, along with vegetation on the National Mall. —ABC News, 24 Apr. 2026

According to Headrick, carpenter bees also pollinate nonnative species such as blueberries, melons, tomatoes, eggplant and squash. —Sarah Linn april 24, Sacbee.com, 24 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1873, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing pollinate

• cross-pollinate
• self-pollinate

Rhymes for pollinate

• abdicate
• abrogate
• acetate
• activate
• actuate
• adsorbate
• aggravate
• agitate
• alginate
• alienate
• allocate
• amputate

Kids Definition

pollinate

verb

pol·​li·​nate ˈpäl-ə-ˌnāt 

pollinated; pollinating

: to place pollen on the stigma of