pollen

noun

pol·​len ˈpä-lən 

1

: a mass of microspores in a seed plant appearing usually as a fine dust

2

: a dusty bloom on the body of an insect

Examples of pollen in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Allergies acting up: Homeowners who are sensitive to dust, pollen, or animal hair may notice their allergies acting up before anything else. —Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 18 Jan. 2025

The most common type of allergy is to pollen, including grass and seasonal allergies, affecting 44 percent of U.S. adults who report having some form of allergy, the report states. —Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 1 Jan. 2025

The butterflies also carried two types of pollen on their bodies, both from plant species found only in Africa. —Danielle Hall, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 Dec. 2024

These pollutants include dust, wildfire smoke, pollen and fragments of bacteria. —Hayleigh Evans, The Arizona Republic, 16 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

New Latin pollin-, pollen, from Latin, fine flour

First Known Use

1723, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing pollen

• pollen basket
• pollen count
• pollen grain
• pollen mother cell
• pollen sac
• pollen tube

Kids Definition

pollen

noun

pol·​len ˈpäl-ən 

: a mass of tiny particles in the anthers of a flower that fertilize the seeds and usually appear as fine yellow dust

Medical Definition

pollen

noun

pol·​len ˈpäl-ən 

: a mass of male spores in a seed plant appearing usually as a fine dust