What does engender mean?
"Engender" is a formal verb meaning to cause, produce, or give rise to something — most often an emotion, attitude, or state of affairs. A leader may engender trust, a policy may engender resentment, and a discovery may engender excitement. The word carries a slightly elevated, literary register: it appears frequently in journalism, academic writing, and official reports but rarely in casual conversation. Its object is nearly always an abstract noun, which lends the verb an impersonal quality — it describes effects coming into being without dwelling on any single agent. Beyond this dominant sense, "engender" has an older, now archaic meaning of begetting offspring. The word derives from the Latin "generare" (to beget), via Old French "engendrer," making it a sibling of "gender," "genesis," "gene," and "generate." For writers seeking a precise, dignified alternative to plainer verbs like "create" or "cause," especially when discussing emotions or social conditions, "engender" remains a valuable choice.
To cause, produce, or give rise to a feeling, situation, or condition.
"The mayor's openness about her own struggles engendered sympathy across party lines."
Almost always followed by an abstract noun such as trust, goodwill, suspicion, or hostility.
(Archaic or biological) To beget or procreate offspring.
"It was believed that the king would engender an heir to secure the dynasty."
This sense is largely historical and rarely encountered outside older texts.
Before "engender" ever sparked an argument, it literally meant fathering a child — its Latin root genus is the same one that gave us "gender," "gene," and "genesis."
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of engender
"Engender" comes from the Latin "generare," meaning "to beget" or "to produce," built on the root "gen-" relating to birth and origin. It entered English through Old French "engendrer" in the Middle English period, initially carrying the literal sense of fathering offspring before shifting toward its modern figurative sense of producing feelings or conditions. It shares this Latin root with "gender," "genesis," "gene," "generate," and "genus."
Usage notes
"Engender" is formal and typically appears in written or elevated speech. It takes an abstract noun as its usual object (trust, hope, hostility) rather than a concrete one, which gives it a slightly impersonal tone; using it with people or physical objects sounds unnatural to most readers.
Don't confuse with
"Gender" refers to the social or grammatical categories of male and female, while "engender" is a verb meaning to cause or bring something into existence — the two share a Latin root but differ entirely in meaning.