self-pollination

American  

[self-pol-uh-ney-shuhn, self-] / ˈsɛlfˌpɒl əˈneɪ ʃən, ˌsɛlf- /

noun

Botany.

1. the transfer of pollen from the anther to the stigma of the same flower, another flower on the same plant, or the flower of a plant of the same clone.

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self-pollination British  

noun

1. the transfer of pollen from the anthers to the stigma of the same flower or of another flower on the same plant Compare cross-pollination

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self-pollination Scientific  

/ sĕlf′pŏl′ə-nā′shən /

1. The transfer of pollen from a male reproductive structure (an anther or male cone) to a female reproductive structure (a stigma or female cone) of the same plant or of the same flower. Self-pollination tends to decrease the genetic diversity (increase the number of homozygous individuals) in a population, and is much less common than cross-fertilization. Many species of plants have evolved mechanisms to promote cross-pollination and avoid self-pollination, though certain plants, such as the pea, regularly self-pollinate.

2. Compare cross-pollination

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Other Word Forms

• self-pollinated
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of self-pollination

First recorded in 1875–80

Compare meaning

How does self-pollination compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• self-pollination vs. cross-pollination

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

self-pollination

The female flowers open first, then the males a day later, to prevent self-pollination.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2025

Tomatoes are able to fertilise themselves, without need of a pollinator, yet even this self-pollination can be assisted by a bee visiting a flower.

From Economist ● Aug. 10, 2016

Biochemical and anatomical barriers to self-pollination promote cross-pollination.

From Textbooks ● Apr. 25, 2013

Darwin and other scientists concluded that this was a mechanism to minimize self-pollination and promote cross-fertilization, with the aid of pollinating insects.

From Washington Post ● Mar. 16, 2011

Just as in some orchids and cleistogamic flowers self-pollination regularly occurs, so it may also occur in other cases.

From Darwin and Modern Science by Seward, A. C. (Albert Charles)