Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

fertilize

/ˈfɜː(ɹ)tɪlaɪz/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 2.61 in modern English

Syllables: fer-til-ize
IPA: /ˈfɜː(ɹ)tɪlaɪz/

21

Scrabble Score

9

Letters

3

Syllables

7

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To make (the soil) more fertile by adding nutrients to it.

verb

To make more creative or intellectually productive.

verb

To cause to produce offspring through insemination; to inseminate.

Example Sentences

"to fertilize one's imagination"
"He [countertenor Anthony Roth Constanzo] also enjoys being the catalyst whereby opera fertilises other art forms: recently, he's collaborated with Japanese kabuki actors, and a project with dancers from New York City Ballet is in the offing."

Etymology

From French fertiliser; equivalent to fertile + -ize.

Word Breakdown

Suffix: fertile

Inflected Forms

fertilizes (present, singular) fertilizing (participle, present) fertilized (participle, past) fertilized (past) fertilise (alternative)

Derived Forms

biofertilize defertilize fertigation fertilizable fertilization fertilizer fertilizin misfertilize nonfertilized overfertilize postfertilized refertilize

Phrases

cross-fertilize

Synonyms

inseminate fecundate fertilise feed

Questions

How do you pronounce fertilize?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈfɜː(ɹ)tɪlaɪz/.
What does fertilize mean?: To make (the soil) more fertile by adding nutrients to it.
Where does fertilize come from?: From French fertiliser; equivalent to fertile + -ize.

How to pronounce fertilize

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “fertilize”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈfɜː(ɹ)tɪlaɪz/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “fertilize”.
Repeat and practice — Say “fertilize” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.