cultivation

American  

[kuhl-tuh-vey-shuhn] / ˌkʌl təˈveɪ ʃən /

noun

1. the act or art of cultivating.

2. the state of being cultivated. cultivated.

3. culture; refinement.

   Synonyms:

   taste, breeding, gentility

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cultivation British  

/ ˌkʌltɪˈveɪʃən /

noun

1. agriculture

   1. the planting, tending, improving, or harvesting of crops or plants

   2. the preparation of ground to promote their growth

2. development, esp through education, training, etc

3. culture or sophistication, esp social refinement

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Usage

What does cultivation mean? Cultivation is the act of growing something or improving its growth, especially crops. Cultivation can also be used in a more figurative way to refer to the same kind of process, except that the thing being grown or improved is often an abstract thing, such as a business or a friendship. Cultivation is a noun form of the verb cultivate. The literal sense of cultivation is most often used in the context of agriculture, but it can also refer to things being grown in a laboratory. Its figurative sense can apply to the development of many different things, such as relationships, skills, and even cultures. Example: The rich soil in this region is ideal for the cultivation of a variety of crops.

Other Word Forms

• noncultivation noun
• overcultivation noun
• precultivation noun
• recultivation noun
• self-cultivation noun
• uncultivation noun

Etymology

Origin of cultivation

First recorded in 1690–1700; cultivate + -ion

Explanation

Cultivation is the act of caring for or raising plants. Your desire to grow your own fruits and vegetables in the backyard means you'll be engaged in some heavy cultivation. The word cultivation is most often used to talk about the ways that farmers take care of crops. However, in a more general sense, the verb cultivate means to improve or train someone or something. You could participate in the cultivation of your little brother by paying for him to take tango lessons and teaching him how to play chess. Or perhaps you might start by simply teaching him how to sip and not slurp his soup.

Example Sentences

The team investigated how wild plants responded to early human cultivation and found that farming practices strongly favored individuals that could compete more effectively than their wild ancestors.

From Science Daily • Apr. 8, 2026

Barbed wire served as a symbol of violence and oppression, but also of agriculture, cultivation and survival.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

The garden charity hopes the now rare salmon-pink flower will be able to be bred and returned to wider cultivation before it disappears entirely.

From BBC • Mar. 5, 2026

He discovered hydroponics, an innovative cultivation technique where vegetables are grown not in soil, but in a solution of water enriched with essential nutrients.

From Barron's • Jan. 29, 2026

These are key characteristics of the strategy of concerted cultivation.

From "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell

Related Words

• farming
• gardening
• horticulture
• planting