Word
fertile
Phoneticsfer·tile, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈfɝtəɫ/
UK/fˈɜːtaɪl/
Definitions
01productive land
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. describes soil or land that is very good for growing crops and plants.
adj. referring to land or soil that is capable of producing abundant vegetation or crops.
“The valley has very fertile soil, so the farmers grow plenty of vegetables there.”
“The volcanic ash had settled over centuries, creating a remarkably fertile plain that supported a dense population of agriculturalists.”
Synonyms
02able to have offspring
B2 · Upper Intermediate Medicine
adj. able to produce babies, seeds, or eggs.
adj. biologically capable of reproducing or sustaining the development of an embryo.
“The vet confirmed that the horse was healthy and fertile.”
“Couples often seek medical advice when they have difficulty conceiving during their most fertile years.”
Synonyms
03creative and active
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. describes a mind or imagination that produces many original and interesting ideas.
adj. metaphorically applied to the mind or imagination to indicate a high capacity for generating new ideas or creative works.
“The young author has a very fertile imagination and writes a new story every week.”
“The director's fertile mind constantly reinvented classic tropes, ensuring that every production felt contemporary and provocative.”
Antonyms
04nuclear material
C2 · Proficiency Science Technical
adj. describes a material that can be turned into fuel for a nuclear reactor.
adj. referring to a nuclide that is not itself fissile but can be converted into a fissile material through neutron capture.
“Thorium is a fertile material that can be used in certain types of nuclear reactors.”
“The breeder reactor was designed to convert fertile isotopes into fissile fuel, theoretically extending the lifespan of the available uranium supply.”
Usage
Used specifically in nuclear physics and engineering contexts.
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “fertile” in context.
Real-World Examples
“They were told Liberia had fertile soil and a healthy climate; it was a promised land for Black people wishing to go home.” “The vixen’s fertile window lasts only a few days, and missing it would mean waiting another year.” Etymology
From Middle English, from Middle French fertile, from Old French fertile, from Latin fertilis (“fruitful, fertile”), from ferō (“to bear, carry”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Related words
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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