pollen

noun

pol·​len ˈpä-lən How to pronounce pollen (audio)
1
: a mass of microspores in a seed plant appearing usually as a fine dust
2
: a dusty bloom on the body of an insect

Examples of pollen in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Fall allergy season is underway in Georgia, with ragweed pollen triggering symptoms such as sneezing, a runny nose and itchy eyes. — Lauren Finney Harden, AJC.com, 20 Oct. 2026 At a teaching apiary in College Park, bees returning to the hive with tiny granules of pollen on their legs tell her something about what is happening inside. — Jamal Goss, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026 While the pollen evidence may still be up for debate, Pomeroy and her colleagues believe Neanderthals repeatedly returned to Shanidar Cave to lay their dead to rest, including the remains of Shanidar A. — Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 15 Oct. 2026 Those with pollen allergies can experience oral allergy syndrome, a mild reaction to certain foods that occurs when the immune system mistakes them for pollen. — Erica Sloan, Washington Post, 14 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pollen

Word History

Etymology

New Latin pollin-, pollen, from Latin, fine flour

First Known Use

1723, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of pollen was in 1723

Phrases Containing pollen

Rhymes for pollen

See All Rhymes for pollen

Browse Nearby Words

pollee
pollen
pollen analysis
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Cite this Entry

“Pollen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pollen. Accessed 23 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

pollen

noun
pol·​len ˈpäl-ən How to pronounce pollen (audio)
: a mass of tiny particles in the anthers of a flower that fertilize the seeds and usually appear as fine yellow dust

Medical Definition

pollen

noun
pol·​len ˈpäl-ən How to pronounce pollen (audio)
: a mass of male spores in a seed plant appearing usually as a fine dust

More from Merriam-Webster on pollen

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pollen

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