impregnate

/ˈɪmpɹɛɡneɪt/

//ˈɪmpɹɛɡneɪt// verb

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"impregnate" is a 10-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“impregnate” is an uncommon English word, ranked #53,618 in English word frequency and used as a verb.

#53,618
frequency rank, English
10
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To cause to become pregnant.

Key facts for impregnate
PropertyValue
Headwordimpregnate
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/ˈɪmpɹɛɡneɪt/
Letters10
Frequency rank#53,618
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “impregnate” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). impregnate lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for impregnate is 10 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈɪmpɹɛɡneɪt/. Corpus data places it at rank #53,618 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 5 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

No misspelling variants are generated for impregnate in our index, and the word's spelling is regular enough that our generator found nothing worth flagging. Our confusable-pair dataset has no match for it, since no other headword is close enough in sound or shape to pair with it.

Etymologically, the entry records: The adjective is first attested in 1540, the verb in 1605; borrowed from Medieval Latin impraegnātus, perfect passive participle of Latin impraegnō, see -ate (verb-forming suffix) and -ate (adjective-forming suffix). Doublet of impregn; participial usage of… The correct English form is impregnate, spelled I-M-P-R-E-G-N-A-T-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    To cause to become pregnant.
  2. 2
    To fertilize.
  3. 3
    To saturate, or infuse.
  4. 4
    To fill pores or spaces with a substance.
  5. 5
    To become pregnant.

Etymology

The adjective is first attested in 1540, the verb in 1605; borrowed from Medieval Latin impraegnātus, perfect passive participle of Latin impraegnō, see -ate (verb-forming suffix) and -ate (adjective-forming suffix). Doublet of impregn; participial usage of the adjective up until Early Modern English.

Synonyms

get with childimpregnateinseminateinwombknock upsettle

Antonyms

become pregnant

This word in other languages

embarazar(Español)mettre enceinte(Français)schwängern(Deutsch)engravidar(Português)

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "impregnate"?
"impregnate" is spelled I-M-P-R-E-G-N-A-T-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈɪmpɹɛɡneɪt/.
What does "impregnate" mean?
As a verb, "impregnate" means: To cause to become pregnant.
How do you pronounce "impregnate"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "impregnate" is /ˈɪmpɹɛɡneɪt/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "impregnate"?
The adjective is first attested in 1540, the verb in 1605; borrowed from Medieval Latin impraegnātus, perfect passive participle of Latin impraegnō, see -ate (verb-forming suffix) and -ate (adjective-forming suffix). Doublet of impregn; participia... See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “impregnate”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is I-M-P-R-E-G-N-A-T-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈɪmpɹɛɡneɪt/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list