Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com

open-pollinated

American  
[oh-puhn-pol-uh-ney-tid] / ˈoʊ pənˈpɒl əˌneɪ tɪd /

adjective

Botany.
  1. (of a flower) pollinated without human agency.


Other Word Forms

  • open pollination noun

Etymology

Origin of open-pollinated

First recorded in 1920–25

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

These tomatoes are open-pollinated, which makes them more genetically diverse and allows them to adapt to local growing conditions and changing climates.

From Salon

But their seeds cannot be saved and reused as easily, so if you want to grow tomatoes, choosing open-pollinated varieties conserves the genetic diversity in the garden and prevents the loss of unique varieties in the face of dwindling agricultural biodiversity.

From Salon

Open-pollinated seeds are the best choice for those interested in seed saving.

From Seattle Times

Many open-pollinated seeds are also heirlooms, but not all.

From Seattle Times

Unfortunately, the Northwest Flower & Garden Festival has been canceled for 2021, but on the Uprising Seeds website, you can browse their entire collection of open-pollinated, certified-organic seed produced by a network of regional small family farms.

From Seattle Times