pollination

noun

pol·​li·​na·​tion ˌpä-lə-ˈnā-shən How to pronounce pollination (audio)
: the transfer of pollen from an anther to the stigma in angiosperms or from the microsporangium to the micropyle in gymnosperms

Examples of pollination in a Sentence

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.
Over the following three years, persistent rain during flowering season caused pollination failure, cutting into his yield. — ABC News, 5 Aug. 2026 However, keep in mind that getting these plants to produce fruit indoors isn’t always easy—temperature, humidity, and pollination all need to be just right. — Blythe Copeland, Martha Stewart, 25 July 2026 The good news is, though, that once temperatures return to normal, so should your plant’s pollination. — The Spruce, 16 July 2026 For Odora and Odorysseus, siblings from a 2002 pollination, a double bloom is unlikely, Tam said. — Emily Tarinelli, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for pollination

Word History

First Known Use

1873, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pollination was in 1873

Phrases Containing pollination

Rhymes for pollination

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Browse Nearby Words

pollinate
pollination
pollinator
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Cite this Entry

“Pollination.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pollination. Accessed 7 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

pollination

noun
pol·​li·​na·​tion ˌpäl-ə-ˈnā-shən How to pronounce pollination (audio)
: the act or process of pollinating

More from Merriam-Webster on pollination

Nglish: Translation of pollination for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pollination

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