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

Even plants get in on the mimicry fun, with some mimicking the small of rotten meat to attract flies and others using their petals to trick flies into pollinating on them. — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 10 Sep. 2026

The fig wasps carry pollen from the caprifigs to female blossoms, pollinating them. — Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 2 Sep. 2026

From pollinating insects like bees to birds and amphibians, visitors to your yard need water to drink. — Nadia Hassani, The Spruce, 29 Aug. 2026

This bee pollinates the high-altitude plants of the Himalayas, including the very rhododendrons whose toxins make the honey so curious and dangerous. — Prayan Pokharel, The Conversation, 27 Aug. 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
• aggravate
• agitate
• alginate
• alienate
• allocate
• amputate
• angulate

Kids Definition

pollinate

verb

pol·​li·​nate ˈpäl-ə-ˌnāt 

pollinated; pollinating

: to place pollen on the stigma of