inseminate

verb

in·​sem·​i·​nate in-ˈse-mə-ˌnāt How to pronounce inseminate (audio)
inseminated; inseminating

transitive verb

1
: sow
2
: to introduce semen into the genital tract of (a female)
insemination noun
Choose the Right Synonym for inseminate

implant, inculcate, instill, inseminate, infix mean to introduce into the mind.

implant implies teaching that makes for permanence of what is taught.

implanted a love of reading in her students

inculcate implies persistent or repeated efforts to impress on the mind.

tried to inculcate in him high moral standards

instill stresses gradual, gentle imparting of knowledge over a long period of time.

instill traditional values in your children

inseminate applies to a sowing of ideas in many minds so that they spread through a class or nation.

inseminated an unquestioning faith in technology

infix stresses firmly inculcating a habit of thought.

infixed a chronic cynicism

Examples of inseminate in a Sentence

She was artificially inseminated in January. the notion that their monarch ruled by divine right had been inseminated in the people for countless generations
Recent Examples on the Web In the early 2000s, zoos in the U.S. developed a technique to artificially inseminate pandas instead. Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY, 15 Oct. 2024 Steeped in evolution, natural selection has favored males who inseminate the most females – and females who leave reproductive offspring of their own. Discover Magazine, 5 July 2024 The bill would prohibit doctors from using their own sperm to inseminate a patient without their consent and expose those who do to civil suit. Kaitlin McCallum, Hartford Courant, 12 Mar. 2024 An 'obvious, burning question' Fertility fraud occurs when a doctor fails to obtain consent from a patient before inseminating her with his own sperm. Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week Uk, theweek, 19 Feb. 2024 See all Example Sentences for inseminate 

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

Word History

Etymology

Latin inseminatus, past participle of inseminare, from in- + semin-, semen seed — more at semen

First Known Use

circa 1623, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of inseminate was circa 1623

Dictionary Entries Near inseminate

Cite this Entry

“Inseminate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inseminate. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

inseminate

verb
in·​sem·​i·​nate in-ˈsem-ə-ˌnāt How to pronounce inseminate (audio)
inseminated; inseminating
: to introduce semen into the genital tract of (a female)
insemination noun

Medical Definition

inseminate

transitive verb
in·​sem·​i·​nate in-ˈsem-ə-ˌnāt How to pronounce inseminate (audio)
inseminated; inseminating
: to introduce semen into the genital tract of (a female)
insemination noun

More from Merriam-Webster on inseminate

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