What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
impregnate
Example
The male seahorse impregnates the female by transferring his sperm into her pouch. [impregnates: verb]
Example
The woodworker impregnated the table with resin to make it more durable. [impregnated: past tense]
fertilize
Example
The farmer fertilized the soil with nitrogen to improve crop yield. [fertilized: past tense]
Example
The sperm fertilizes the egg to create a zygote. [fertilizes: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Fertilize is more commonly used than impregnate in everyday language, particularly in the context of plant growth and human/animal reproduction.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between impregnate and fertilize?
Impregnate is often used in a more technical or scientific context, while fertilize is more versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
