inseminate

[in-sem-uh-neyt]

verb (used with object)

inseminated, inseminating 

1. to inject semen into (the female reproductive tract); impregnate.

2. to sow; implant seed into.

3. to sow as seed in something; implant.

   to inseminate youth with new ideas.

inseminate

/ ɪnˈsɛmɪˌneɪt /

verb

1. to impregnate (a female) with semen

2. to introduce (ideas or attitudes) into the mind of (a person or group)

Other Word Forms

• insemination noun
• inseminator noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of inseminate¹

First recorded in 1615–25; from Latin insēminātus, past participle of insēmināre “to implant, impregnate,” equivalent to in- “in” + sēminātus (equivalent to sēminā(re) “to sow,” derivative of sēmen “seed” + -tus past participle suffix). See in- ²; semen

Word History and Origins

Origin of inseminate¹

C17: from Latin insēmināre, from _in- ² + sēmināre to sow, from sēmen seed

Example Sentences

Female orcas kept captive in marine zoos can be artificially inseminated to breed more calves, which can later be used to attract more visitors and perform in shows.

Read more on BBC

And with each insemination costing 80 Swiss francs, that can soon eat up a breeder's budget: a typical Swiss dairy farm spends several thousand Swiss francs a year on artificially inseminating its herd of cows.

Read more on Science Daily

A UW Medicine physician agreed to surrender his license after a California woman alleges DNA testing revealed he had artificially inseminated her with his own sperm.

Read more on Seattle Times

The industry now relies on artificial insemination for reproduction, which includes the disturbing and violent practices of “milking” toms and inseminating hens.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Reeves and Swanson artificially inseminated nine zoo ocelots with sperm from the wild Texas animals in 2021 and 2022, and no pregnancies resulted.

Read more on Scientific American

Related Words

• fertilize