What does "cross-fertilization" mean?
Fertilization by the union of gametes of different plants (sometimes of different species).
Cross-fertilization
noun
noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Fertilization by the union of gametes of different plants (sometimes of different species).
- Grammar: cross-fertilization is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: conjugation, cross-fertilisation, impregnation, insemination.
- Useful contrasts: self-fertilization.
- Usage evidence: His fame led to some curious cultural cross-fertilizations. In Japan, the Yamamoto-clad singer stirred up a singular fanaticism—so much so that Japanese charter flights traveled all the way to Kinshasa, while in Tokyo, clone bands skilled at his kind of soukous multiplied.
How to use "cross-fertilization"
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- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "cross-fertilization" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "cross-fertilization" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "cross-fertilization" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "cross-fertilization" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
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Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "cross-fertilization" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "conjugation" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
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Final meaning check
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When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Fertilization by the union of gametes of different plants (sometimes of different species). countable, uncountable
- 2 interchange between different cultures or different ways of thinking that is mutually productive and beneficial wordnet
- 3 The mutual exchange of ideas or concepts from different fields for mutual benefit. broadly, countable, uncountable
"His fame led to some curious cultural cross-fertilizations. In Japan, the Yamamoto-clad singer stirred up a singular fanaticism—so much so that Japanese charter flights traveled all the way to Kinshasa, while in Tokyo, clone bands skilled at his kind of soukous multiplied."
- 4 fertilization by the union of male and female gametes from different individual of the same species wordnet
Antonyms
Example
"His fame led to some curious cultural cross-fertilizations. In Japan, the Yamamoto-clad singer stirred up a singular fanaticism—so much so that Japanese charter flights traveled all the way to Kinshasa, while in Tokyo, clone bands skilled at his kind of soukous multiplied."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "cross-fertilization"?
Common synonyms include: conjugation, cross-fertilisation, impregnation, insemination.
How do you use "cross-fertilization" in a sentence?
His fame led to some curious cultural cross-fertilizations. In Japan, the Yamamoto-clad singer stirred up a singular fanaticism—so much so that Japanese charter flights traveled all the way to Kinshasa, while in Tokyo, clone bands skilled at his kind of soukous multiplied.
Etymology
From cross- + fertilization.