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inseminate

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

Definition of inseminate

transitive verb

1 : sow
2 : to introduce semen into the genital tract of (a female)
Other Words from inseminate Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym Example Sentences Learn More about inseminate

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Other Words from inseminate

insemination \ in-​ˌse-​mə-​ˈnā-​shən How to pronounce insemination (audio) \ 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

 According to the New York Times, Epstein hoped that multiple women would be inseminated with his sperm. — Sharon Begley, STAT, "Citing ‘nerd tunnel vision,’ biologist George Church apologizes for contacts with Jeffrey Epstein," 5 Aug. 2019 Meng Meng mated for the first time with 9-year-old partner Jiao Qing in April, and was also artificially inseminated to increase the likelihood of pregnancy. — Washington Post, "High hopes that Berlin zoo’s panda is expecting," 14 Aug. 2019 Through a quick series of only-in-a-telenovela events, Jane is accidentally inseminated with the sperm of Rafael Solano (Justin Baldoni), the handsome hotel mogul who was also Jane’s first crush. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "Column: Why ‘Jane the Virgin’ is the TV show you need right now," 5 Aug. 2019 In the first few episodes, Jane gets artificially inseminated by her doctor and ends up being pregnant by her super-hot boss and ex-crush Rafael Solano. — Lluvia Perez, Teen Vogue, "Jane the Virgin’s Impact On American Viewers and Latinx Storytelling," 1 Aug. 2019 According to a press release from the zoo, Victoria, the calf’s mother, was artificially inseminated with frozen semen from a male southern white rhino in March 2018 and carried the calf for 493 days before giving birth. — Helen Murphy, PEOPLE.com, "Southern White Rhino Calf Conceived Through Artificial Insemination Born at San Diego Zoo," 1 Aug. 2019 Their reproductive cycles are the same (commercial hens have to be artificially inseminated). — Popular Mechanics, "The Secrets of Raising Heritage Turkeys," 21 Nov. 2018 The fecund doctor, Donald Cline, has since admitted to lying to patients and using his own sperm to inseminate them. — Beth Mole, Ars Technica, "Fertility doc inseminated dozens of women with own sperm, DNA sites find," 31 Aug. 2018 She was artificially inseminated March 1, and scientists have been tracking her hormones and behavior since then. — Rebecca Bratek, CBS News, "National Zoo's giant panda experiencing "pseudopregnancy," zoo says," 5 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'inseminate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of inseminate

circa 1623, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for inseminate

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

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More Definitions for inseminate

inseminate

verb
How to pronounce inseminate (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of inseminate

technical : to put semen into (a woman or a female animal) in order to cause pregnancy

See the full definition for inseminate in the English Language Learners Dictionary

inseminate

transitive verb
in·​sem·​i·​nate | \ in-ˈsem-ə-ˌnāt How to pronounce inseminate (audio) \
inseminated; inseminating

Medical Definition of inseminate

: to introduce semen into the genital tract of (a female)

Other Words from inseminate

insemination \ -​ˌsem-​ə-​ˈnā-​shən How to pronounce insemination (audio) \ noun

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