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.
Now, it is filled with flowering plants intended to provide food and habitat for pollinating species. Hannah Kliger, CBS News, 17 Apr. 2026 Spray late in the evening to reduce the direct impact on pollinating insects. Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 16 Apr. 2026 Similar to bees, wasps pollinate flowers and benefit gardens by keeping pests in check. Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Apr. 2026 Because corpse flowers cannot pollinate themselves, seeds will only form if pollen from another titan arum is available. ABC News, 15 Apr. 2026 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 22 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

pollinate

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

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