fertilize

American  

[fur-tl-ahyz] / ˈfɜr tlˌaɪz /

especially British, fertilise

verb (used with object)

fertilized, fertilizing

1. Biology.

   1. to render (the female gamete) capable of development by uniting it with the male gamete.

   2. to fecundate or impregnate (an animal or plant).

2. to make fertile; enrich.

   to fertilize farmland.

3. to make productive.

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fertilize British  

/ ˈfɜːtɪˌlaɪz /

verb

1. to provide (an animal, plant, or egg cell) with sperm or pollen to bring about fertilization

2. to supply (soil or water) with mineral and organic nutrients to aid the growth of plants

3. to make fertile or productive

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Other Word Forms

• fertilizability noun
• fertilizable adjective
• overfertilize verb (used with object)
• prefertilize verb (used with object)
• refertilizable adjective
• refertilize verb (used with object)
• unfertilizable adjective
• unfertilized adjective
• unfertilizing adjective

Etymology

Origin of fertilize

First recorded in 1640–50; fertile + -ize

Example Sentences

He said he already had paid $50,000 more than last year to fertilize his corn fields in the past 30 days.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

Whether we use it to fertilize a resurgent democracy, or throw it in everyone’s face, including our own, is really up to us.

From Salon • Mar. 6, 2025

Surface water, for example, could have runoff that includes nitrate used to fertilize land in agricultural areas.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 22, 2024

"We evaluated several doses and treatment schedules and then determined sperm motility and number in the mice as well as their ability to fertilize females."

From Science Daily • May 23, 2024

But Papa used the mess to fertilize everything that grew around the place.

From "Stella by Starlight" by Sharon M. Draper

Related Words

• compost
• enrich
• germinate
• impregnate
• inseminate
• mulch
• pollinate
• propagate