pollen

noun

pol·​len ˈpä-lən 

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

Most recently, analysis of pollen trapped in the ship’s waterproofing layers have yielded insight into repairs made successively in other locations throughout the Adriatic Sea, according to a paper published in the journal Frontiers in Materials. —ArsTechnica, 2 May 2026

Tree pollen is expected to be high in the Philadelphia area throughout the weekend, before moving to very high and even extreme next week, according to AccuWeather's pollen forecast. —Kaitlyn McCormick, USA Today, 1 May 2026

Dandelions bloom early in spring and thrive in harsh conditions, providing nectar and pollen when other food sources are scarce. —Ryan Brennan, Sacbee.com, 1 May 2026

Their nectar and pollen are better understood as a temporary lifeline — not a complete or ideal diet. —Ryan Brennan may 1, Miami Herald, 1 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1723, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing pollen

• pollen basket
• pollen count
• pollen grain
• pollen mother cell
• pollen sac
• pollen tube

Rhymes for pollen

• cauline
• fallen
• paulin
• befallen
• crestfallen
• tarpaulin

Kids Definition

pollen

noun

pol·​len ˈpäl-ən 

: 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 

: a mass of male spores in a seed plant appearing usually as a fine dust