procreate

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "procreate" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to the act of producing offspring, either through sexual or asexual means. For example: "The pandas in the zoo were unable to procreate because of their age and health."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

While harm to identifiable others is generally agreed upon as a constraint on the morality of procreation, various views would constrain a right to procreate even further.

SEP

"Generally," she says, "courts have found that the right not to procreate outweighs the right to procreate.

The Guardian

We've evolved to successfully procreate, not to enjoy deathless romance.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Cities are not just a level of administration, they embody the human communities that define us: where we are born, study, work, marry, create and procreate, play, pray, age and die.

The Guardian

When digital devices meet, they do not so much converge as procreate, producing some surprising-looking offspring.Technology Quarterly Humanoids on the march Who wants to buy a computon?

The Economist

The Victorians kept the sexes apart for fear that they would procreate; attitudes since the 1960s have tended towards "normalisation," which often means having men and women on the same ward.

The Economist

Why are young Japanese so loth to procreate?The spiral of demographic decline is spinning faster as the number of women of child-bearing age falls.

The Economist

The urge to multiply their genes across partners is greater than their need to procreate, thus bucking the trend of monogamy that is common among arthropods.But it is still not clear why the pheromones secreted by females who have mated once smell differently from those who have mated twice.

The Economist

Their families, he says, "procreate at large scales [sic] trying to conquer territories demographically and later through bloodshed".

The Economist

Men, by contrast, wear themselves out competing for the right to procreate in the first place.

The Economist

Humans wishing both to prolong their lives and to procreate might thus wish to wait until their child-bearing years were behind them before embarking on such a diet, although, by then, relatively more age-related damage will have accumulated.No one knows exactly why a low-calorie diet extends the life of mice, but some researchers think it is linked to the rate at which cells divide.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "procreate", consider the context; it often carries a formal or scientific tone, making it suitable for academic or technical writing. For less formal settings, consider synonyms like "reproduce" or "have children".

Common error

Avoid using "procreate" in everyday conversation or informal writing. It can sound overly technical or stilted. Simpler words like "reproduce" or phrases like "start a family" are usually more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "procreate" is as an intransitive verb, denoting the act of generating offspring or reproducing. Ludwig examples demonstrate its use in describing biological processes and reproductive rights.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Science

36%

Encyclopedias

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "procreate" is a verb primarily used to describe the act of generating offspring, often in a formal or scientific context. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in written English, highlighting its prevalence in news media, scientific literature, and encyclopedic entries. While grammatically sound, it's essential to consider the formality of "procreate" and opt for simpler terms like "reproduce" or "have children" in informal settings. The provided examples showcase its versatility in discussions ranging from reproductive rights to biological processes, solidifying its place as a valuable term in the English language.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Reproduce

A direct synonym, focusing on the biological aspect of creating offspring.

Generate offspring

More descriptive, specifying the outcome of the reproductive process.

Multiply

Emphasizes increasing in number, often used in a biological context.

Breed

Implies controlled reproduction, often in animal husbandry.

Beget

An older, more formal term for fathering offspring.

Give birth to

Focuses on the act of delivering offspring.

Propagate

Common in botany, referring to plant reproduction.

Create

Broader term, referring to bringing something new into existence.

Originate

Implies initiating or causing something to exist.

Spawn

Often used for aquatic animals releasing eggs or sperm.

FAQs

How to use "procreate" in a sentence?

Use "procreate" to describe the act of producing offspring, often in a biological or formal context. For example, "The goal of many species is to survive and "reproduce"".

What can I say instead of "procreate"?

You can use alternatives like ""reproduce"", "breed", or "have children" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "procreate" or "procreate children"?

"Procreate" itself implies the creation of offspring, so saying "procreate children" is redundant. Simply use "procreate".

What's the difference between "procreate" and "reproduce"?

While similar, "procreate" is generally considered a more formal or scientific term than ""reproduce"". "Procreate" can also sometimes refer to the creation of something new, not just offspring.