fertilizer

noun

fer·​til·​iz·​er ˈfər-tə-ˌlī-zər How to pronounce fertilizer (audio)
: one that fertilizes
specifically : a substance (such as manure or a chemical mixture) used to make soil more fertile

Examples of fertilizer in a Sentence

We only use organic fertilizer in our gardens. They use chemical fertilizers on their lawn.
Recent Examples on the Web Amend tired soil with 2-4 inches of fresh soil, 2 inches compost, and a combo of growth enhancing natural fertilizers such as worm castings, alfalfa, and kelp meal. Kristin Guy, Sunset Magazine, 12 Mar. 2024 Fertilizer Fertilize a pineapple plant monthly during summer with a water-soluble fertilizer. Grace Haynes, Southern Living, 11 Mar. 2024 That means doing things like decreasing pollution from leaky septic systems and fertilizer runoff. Jason Gulley Catrin Einhorn, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2024 Top off garden with fresh compost (not planting mix, not potting mix), plus worm castings and organic vegetable fertilizer. Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Mar. 2024 Organic oats and wheat grown without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers likely have no chlormequat. Stephanie Brown, Verywell Health, 27 Feb. 2024 Tea trees require a lot of nitrogen, and using microbial communities like the one from this study could help reduce the use of chemical fertilizers while simultaneously promoting the quality of tea trees. Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 15 Feb. 2024 The bulk carrier went down off Yemen after a Houthi missile attack, and poses grave environmental risks as thousands of tons of fertilizer threaten to spill into the Red Sea, officials and experts warn. Alan Taylor, The Atlantic, 8 Mar. 2024 Her group has worked to block a coal ash landfill, a liquid fertilizer plant, a hazardous waste incinerator, a private prison, and perhaps most prominently, the Atlantic Coast Pipeline. Alfredo Sosa, The Christian Science Monitor, 6 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fertilizer.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1661, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of fertilizer was circa 1661

Dictionary Entries Near fertilizer

Cite this Entry

“Fertilizer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fertilizer. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

fertilizer

noun
fer·​til·​iz·​er ˈfərt-ᵊl-ˌī-zər How to pronounce fertilizer (audio)
: a substance (as manure or a chemical) used to make soil produce larger or more plant life
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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