fertilizer

American  

[fur-tl-ahy-zer] / ˈfɜr tlˌaɪ zər /

noun

• fertilizers
  plural

1. any substance used to fertilize the soil, especially a commercial or chemical manure.

2. a person, insect, etc., that fertilizes an animal or plant.

   Bees are fertilizers of flowers.

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fertilizer British  

/ ˈfɜːtɪˌlaɪzə /

noun

1. any substance, such as manure or a mixture of nitrates, added to soil or water to increase its productivity

2. an object or organism such as an insect that fertilizes an animal or plant

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fertilizer Scientific  

/ fûr′tl-ī′zər /

1. Any of a large number of natural and synthetic materials, including manure and compounds containing nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, spread on or worked into soil to increase its capacity to support plant growth. Synthetic fertilizers can greatly increase the productivity of soil but have high energy costs, since fossil fuels are required as a source of hydrogen, which is necessary to fix nitrogen in ammonia.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• fertilizers
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of fertilizer

First recorded in 1655–65; fertilize + -er ¹

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Explanation

Material you add to a garden to increase the nutrients in the soil and help plants grow is called fertilizer. If your rosebushes are looking a little sad, you might want to try using fertilizer. To fertilize is to make something fertile, or to encourage it to grow or reproduce. These words, along with fertilizer, come from the Latin fertilis, "bearing in abundance, fruitful, or productive." The most common kind of organic fertilizer is animal manure or peat, and other fertilizers are made of specific nutrients like nitrogen or potassium. Fertilizers are usually solid, though they come in liquid form as well.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

fertilizer fertilizers

He referred to the rise of food security problems as a result of energy, fertilizer and agricultural products being unable to reach their destinations as sea lanes come under attack.

From Barron's ● Oct. 31, 2026

Instead, the Russian president offered to increase Russian fertilizer exports to U.S. farmers.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 26, 2026

Although urea prices have fallen sharply from their April peaks, S&P expects fertilizer markets to remain under pressure through the rest of 2026, with only gradual relief anticipated in 2027.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 21, 2026

Background and context: Higher fertilizer costs and a recent drop in selling prices for corn are expected to drag on farmers’ profits.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 21, 2026

In human societies possessing domestic animals, livestock fed more people in four distinct ways: by furnishing meat, milk, and fertilizer and by pulling plows.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond

Schacht said some fertilizers he needs for the next planting season have doubled in price.

From Barron's ● Oct. 9, 2026

The monthslong conflict between Iran and the U.S. has curbed the flow of goods through the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway many countries rely on for imports of critical inputs like fertilizers and natural gas.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 5, 2026

Chinese producers use American sulfur to manufacture phosphate fertilizers, which supply phosphorus—one of the three primary plant nutrients along with nitrogen and potassium.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 28, 2026

These include keeping soil permanently covered, applying compost, using more diverse crop rotations and reducing the use of mineral fertilizers and pesticides.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 28, 2026

For a time, I attempted to grow peanuts, and used different soils and fertilizers, but finally I gave up.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

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Related Words

• manure

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