fertile

adjective

fer·​tile ˈfər-tᵊl 

chiefly British

-ˌtī(-ə)l 

1

a

: producing or bearing many crops in great quantities : productive

fertile fields of corn and oats

b

: characterized by great resourcefulness of thought or imagination : inventive

a fertile mind

c

obsolete : plentiful

2

a(1)

: capable of sustaining abundant plant growth

fertile soil

(2)

: affording abundant possibilities for growth or development

damp bathrooms are fertile ground for fungi

—Consumer Reports

a fertile area for research

b

: capable of growing or developing

a fertile egg

c(1)

: capable of producing fruit

fertile trees

(2)

of an anther : containing pollen

(3)

: developing spores or spore-bearing organs

d

: capable of breeding or reproducing

3

: capable of being converted into fissionable material

fertile uranium 238

fertilely

ˈfər-tᵊl-(l)ē 

adverb

fertileness

ˈfər-tᵊl-nəs 

noun

Synonyms

• cornucopian
• fat
• fecund
• fructuous
• fruitful
• lush
• luxuriant
• productive
• prolific
• rich

Choose the Right Synonym for fertile

fertile, fecund, fruitful, prolific mean producing or capable of producing offspring or fruit.

fertile implies the power to reproduce in kind or to assist in reproduction and growth

fertile soil

; applied figuratively, it suggests readiness of invention and development.

a fertile imagination

fecund emphasizes abundance or rapidity in bearing fruit or offspring.

a fecund herd

fruitful adds to fertile and fecund the implication of desirable or useful results.

fruitful research

prolific stresses rapidity of spreading or multiplying by or as if by natural reproduction.

a prolific writer

Examples of fertile in a Sentence

an area that is a fertile breeding ground for political extremism

This subject remains a fertile field for additional investigation.

He has a fertile mind.

Recent Examples on the Web

Carver, a Black agricultural scientist and inventor, was extremely concerned with keeping soil and its nutrients rich and fertile. —Catherine Jessee, Southern Living, 16 Feb. 2025

For Kentridge, attachment to a great idea can lead to entrapment, closing your mind to other, unthought-of fertile ideas. —Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2025

The river meanders through diverse landscapes, including tropical rainforests, fertile river valleys, and vibrant wetlands, supporting an incredible array of wildlife, including more than 150 mammals, 600 birds, 120 reptiles, and 50 amphibian species, many of which are found nowhere else. —Bailey Berg, AFAR Media, 29 Jan. 2025

Despite fertile premises, these films come off more smug than revelatory. —Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 28 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Middle French & Latin; Middle French, from Latin fertilis, from ferre to carry, bear — more at bear

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing fertile

• cross-fertile
• fertile soil
• self-fertile

Kids Definition

fertile

adjective

fer·​tile ˈfərt-ᵊl 

1

: producing vegetation or crops plentifully : rich

fertile farmland

2

: producing thoughts and ideas abundantly

a fertile mind

3

a

: capable of growing and developing

a fertile seed

b

: capable of reproducing or of producing reproductive cells

a fertile bull

fertile fungal hyphae

fertility

(ˌ)fər-ˈtil-ət-ē

noun

Etymology

Middle English fertile "bearing in abundance, productive," from early French fertile and Latin fertilis (both same meaning), from Latin ferre "to bear, carry, yield, produce" — related to defer entry 1, transfer

Medical Definition

fertile

adjective

fer·​tile

ˈfərt-ᵊl, chiefly British ˈfər-ˌtīl

1

: capable of growing or developing

fertile egg

2

: developing spores or spore-bearing organs

3

a

: capable of breeding or reproducing

b

of an estrous cycle : marked by the production of one or more viable eggs