engender

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'engender' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use 'engender' when you want to convey the idea of creating, producing, or causing something. Example sentence: His heartfelt words engendered feelings of hope and joy in the crowd.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Social and mass media often promote unrealistic life expectations and engender a persecutory perfectionism within young adults.

The Guardian

There is also evidence that he has helped to engender the same sort of hatred and persecutory atmosphere elsewhere, in particular Russia, which adopted its own draconian anti-gay legislation last year.

The Guardian - Opinion

A touch grand perhaps but it captures the essence of the culture we are trying to engender throughout the school.

The Guardian

Comments will generally be open on blog posts, features which are discursive and likely to engender thoughtful/insightful/collaborative responses plus multimedia interviews, events, roundtables and conversations, where the content is clearly discursive itself or user participation is part of the story.

The Guardian

Worse, devolution has helped to engender strong nationalist parties in Wales and especially Scotland, able to humble Labour in what were once its heart of hearts.With his chameleonic charm, Mr Blair managed to straddle this complex social landscape and build an election-winning coalition.

The Economist

Another early hope for Mr Putin's presidency that market reforms and business-friendly policy would engender sustainable growth—has been battered by the dismemberment of Yukos, once Russia's leading oil company.

The Economist

Tobias Kinnebrew, of Bot & Dolly, thinks that new interfaces could open up markets and applications of robotics in all sorts of fields, and might do so surprisingly quickly.Needing help with something can engender affection.

The Economist

Regional co-operation across old national borders (some of them evaporating as the EU integrates) may in time engender a new set of economics-driven loyalties that weaken the pull of the old nation-states (see articles on Flanders and Catalonia) but without necessarily breaking them up.

The Economist

The other possibility is that genes which predispose to criminal behaviour (several studies suggest such genes exist) are more common at the bottom of society than at the top, perhaps because the lack of impulse-control they engender also tends to reduce someone's earning capacity.Neither of these conclusions is likely to be welcome to social reformers.

The Economist

But he also realised that economic reforms needed to be backed by humanities and education projects to engender a new national elite.

The Economist

The extra spending that it hopes to engender will then be spread over three years.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "engender" when you want to convey the idea of something abstract or intangible being brought into existence, such as feelings, ideas, or situations. It's more formal than "cause" or "create."

Common error

Avoid using "engender" in casual conversation or informal writing where simpler words like "cause", "create" or "produce" would be more appropriate. "Engender" is more suitable for formal, academic, or professional settings.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "engender" is as a transitive verb. Ludwig AI states that it conveys the idea of creating, producing, or causing something. Many examples in Ludwig show its usage in creating abstract concepts or feelings.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "engender" is a grammatically correct transitive verb that means to cause or give rise to a particular feeling, situation, or condition. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and usability in written English. It's frequently used in news and media, science, and formal business contexts, making it a common term in neutral to formal registers. When choosing an alternative, consider "give rise to", "bring about", or "create" depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey. While "engender" is a powerful word, avoid overusing it in informal contexts where simpler alternatives would be more appropriate. The examples from Ludwig illustrate its role in expressing the creation or development of something abstract, adding depth and precision to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Give rise to

Emphasizes the act of causing something to begin or emerge.

Bring about

Focuses on the act of making something happen or occur.

Generate

Highlights the creation or production of something, often in a more technical sense.

Create

Stresses the act of bringing something new into existence.

Produce

Focuses on yielding or supplying something as a result of effort or a process.

Cause

A more direct term indicating that something leads to a particular outcome.

Instigate

Implies initiating an action or event, sometimes with negative connotations.

Spark

Suggests triggering a sudden or intense reaction or development.

Foster

Emphasizes nurturing and promoting the growth or development of something.

Promote

Focuses on actively encouraging the advancement or popularity of something.

FAQs

How can I use "engender" in a sentence?

You can use "engender" to describe the act of causing or giving rise to a particular feeling, situation, or condition. For example, "The new policy is expected to "engender" a sense of hope among the employees".

What are some alternatives to using "engender"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "give rise to", "bring about", "generate", or "create" instead of "engender".

Is "engender" a formal or informal word?

"Engender" is generally considered a formal word, suitable for academic, professional, or literary contexts. Simpler words may be more appropriate in informal settings.

What is the difference between "engender" and "cause"?

"Engender" often implies a more gradual or indirect process of bringing something into existence, while "cause" suggests a more direct and immediate effect. "Engender" is also typically used in more formal contexts than "cause".