Word
fertilizer
Phoneticsfer·til·iz·er, stress on the first syllable
/ˈfɝtəˌɫaɪzɝ/
UK spelling · fertiliser
Definitions
01plant food
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. a natural or chemical substance added to soil to help plants grow.
n. a natural or synthetic substance containing nutrients that is applied to soil or land to increase its fertility.
“The gardener added organic fertilizer to the soil before planting the tomatoes.”
“Modern agriculture relies heavily on nitrogen-based fertilizers to maintain high crop yields across large-scale farming operations.”
02human remains
C2 · Proficiency Uncountable noun Vulgar · Slang
n. a very dark or rude way to talk about dead bodies left in the ground.
n. a derogatory or cynical reference to human remains, implying they are of no more value than waste used for soil.
“In the dark movie, the villain said the soldiers were just fertilizer now.”
“The cynical commander dismissed the loss of life, callously remarking that his fallen enemies were now nothing more than fertilizer for the fields.”
Usage
Used figuratively and usually in a highly offensive or dark context.
Real-World Examples
“An earlier version referred to glyphosate as a fertilizer; it is an herbicide.” “Growing avocados on a commercial scale requires a lot of nitrogen fertilizers and other agrochemicals.” “Islands that appeared barren were, in fact, among the world’s richest natural sources of fertilizer.” Etymology
From fertilize + -er.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
Related words
Domain
- 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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