fertilization

American  

[fur-tl-uh-zey-shuhn] / ˌfɜr tl əˈzeɪ ʃən /

noun

1. an act, process, or instance of fertilizing.

2. the state of being fertilized.

3. Biology.

   1. the union of male and female gametic nuclei.

   2. fecundation or impregnation of animals or plants.

4. the enrichment of soil, as for the production of crops.

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fertilization British  

/ ˌfɜːtɪlaɪˈzeɪʃən /

noun

1. the union of male and female gametes, during sexual reproduction, to form a zygote

2. the act or process of fertilizing

3. the state of being fertilized

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fertilization Scientific  

/ fûr′tl-ĭ-zā′shən /

1. The process by which two gametes (reproductive cells having a single, haploid set of chromosomes) fuse to become a zygote, which develops into a new organism. The resultant zygote is diploid (it has two sets of chromosomes). In cross-fertilization, the two gametes come from two different individual organisms. In self-fertilization, the gametes come from the same individual. Fertilization includes the union of the cytoplasm of the gametes (called plasmogamy) followed by the union of the nuclei of the two gametes (called karyogamy). Among many animals, such as mammals, fertilization occurs inside the body of the female. Among fish, eggs are fertilized in the water. Among plants, fertilization of eggs occurs within the reproductive structures of the parent plant, such as the ovules of gymnosperms and angiosperms.

2. See Note at pollination

3. The process of making soil more productive of plant growth, as by the addition of organic material or fertilizer.

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fertilization Cultural  

1. The joining of sex cells to form a new living thing. In humans, a male sperm joins a female ovum, or egg; the resulting zygote divides into a multicelled structure that implants in the womb and grows into an embryo. In plants, pollen grains, containing the male sex cells, enter the female sex cells in the pistil; from this union, fruit eventually grows. When fertilization occurs within a single flower, we call it self-fertilization. (See cross-fertilization.)

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Other Word Forms

• fertilizational adjective
• overfertilization noun
• prefertilization noun
• refertilization noun

Etymology

Origin of fertilization

First recorded in 1855–60; fertilize + -ation

Example Sentences

Off-season produce is vulnerable to higher prices because of the increased price of diesel fuel for trucks, refrigeration and fertilization, said Stanley Lim, co-director of Michigan State University’s Food Access & Supply Chain Technology Lab.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 21, 2026

During the first few hours after fertilization, a fruit fly embryo rapidly divides its nuclei, producing thousands of cells in a short time.

From Science Daily • Feb. 27, 2026

Fertility treatments: Large employer health plans will be required to cover infertility treatments, including in vitro fertilization, for everyone, regardless of marital status, gender identity or sexual orientation.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 1, 2026

Tens of thousands of people, including infertile and same-sex couples, have had babies through the technological advances of in vitro fertilization and the willingness of surrogates to carry those children.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 28, 2025

Heredity, date of fertilization, membership of Bokanovsky Group—details were transferred from test-tube to bottle.

From "Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley

Related Words

• breeding
• implantation
• pollination
• procreation
• propagation