What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
domestication
Example
The domestication of dogs began thousands of years ago when humans first started to tame wolves. [domestication: noun]
Example
Farmers have been practicing the domestication of crops for centuries, selecting and breeding plants for desirable traits. [domestication: noun]
cultivation
Example
The cultivation of rice requires careful preparation of the soil and planting techniques. [cultivation: noun]
Example
She has been cultivating her artistic skills for years through practice and study. [cultivating: gerund or present participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Cultivation is more commonly used than domestication in everyday language. Cultivation is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while domestication is less common and refers to a specific process of adapting wild animals or plants for human use.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between domestication and cultivation?
Both domestication and cultivation can be used in formal and informal contexts, but domestication may have a more technical or scientific connotation in some contexts.