engender

American  

[en-jen-der] / ɛnˈdʒɛn dər /

verb (used with object)

1. to produce, cause, or give rise to.

   Hatred engenders violence.

   Synonyms:

   breed, generate, create, excite, occasion, beget

2. to beget; procreate.

   Synonyms:

   breed, generate, create

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verb (used without object)

1. to be produced or caused; come into existence.

   Conditions for a war were engendering in Europe.

engender British  

/ ɪnˈdʒɛndə /

verb

1. (tr) to bring about or give rise to; produce or cause

2. to be born or cause to be born; bring or come into being

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Other Word Forms

• engenderer noun
• engenderment noun
• unengendered adjective

Etymology

Origin of engender

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English, from Old French engendrer, from Latin ingenerāre, from in- en- ¹ + generāre “to beget” ( generate )

Explanation

Engender is a fancy way of saying "to make happen," like when you engender the spirit of teamwork and cooperation by encouraging others and doing your share of the group's work. The verb engender has nothing to do with being male or female, though originally, it did mean "beget, procreate." Today, engender means "to produce or bring about." When students come to class prepared, meaning they've read their assignment, this engenders better class discussions, just as mutual trust and the desire to help each other engenders a meaningful friendship.

Example Sentences

These gestures engender goodwill because music lovers have “an expectation of fairness” when buying concert tickets, said Pascal Courty, an economics professor at the University of Victoria.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 30, 2026

“Judges should not have to worry when they rule against the president that the ruling will engender real personal threats,” Vladeck concluded.

From Salon • Feb. 28, 2026

“That being said, should it, as previously flagged, engender the restart of Ngungaju, increased supply will likely place downward pressure on prices,” says Jefferies.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 10, 2026

Perhaps the act of being prescribed a medication and taking it would engender a different hope, one that might work about as well as any other placebo.

From Slate • Jan. 30, 2026

This the power lovely and terrible, what we try to engender in Kwang’s giant money club, our huge ggeh for all.

From "Native Speaker" by Chang-rae Lee

Related Words

• arouse
• beget
• breed
• bring about
• foment
• generate
• incite
• induce
• instigate
• lead to
• precipitate
• provoke
• spawn
• stimulate
• stir