What does procreate mean?
Procreate is a formal verb meaning to produce offspring through sexual reproduction. It is often used in biological, environmental, and historical contexts, where it emphasizes the continuation of a species or the creation of a new generation. The word can also have the broader, literary sense of creating or generating something, as in procreating a solution, although this use is less common than the reproductive meaning. Procreate is related in origin to create and ultimately comes from Latin procreare, formed from pro-, meaning 'forth' or 'forward,' and creare, meaning 'to create' or 'to produce.' The term can sound clinical or elevated in ordinary conversation, so reproduce or generate may be preferable in informal contexts.
To produce offspring by sexual reproduction.
"Many insects procrete in warm, humid conditions."
Formal; commonly used of humans, animals, and other organisms.
To create or generate something, especially in a literary or abstract sense.
"The new policy was intended to procreate cooperation among competing institutions."
Less common and more literary than the reproductive sense; often used with abstract creations or ideas.
The word procreate comes from the same Latin root as create: literally, it means to bring forth or create new life.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does procreate come from?
Procreate derives from Latin procreare, a compound of pro-, meaning 'forth' or 'forward,' and creare, meaning 'to create' or 'to produce.' The same Latin root underlies English words such as create, creative, and creature. In English, procreate has long been used for the production of offspring, while its more general sense of generating or creating developed later and is now chiefly literary.
Related word forms
How procreate is actually used
In its common biological sense, procreate is formal and is often used of humans, animals, or organisms. Its broader meaning, 'to create or generate,' is literary and less common. The verb can be used transitively, as in 'procreate children,' or intransitively.
Easily confused with procreate
Procreate means to reproduce offspring, whereas prosecute means to bring criminal proceedings against someone.