cultivar: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Technical/Formal
Quick answer
What does “cultivar” mean?
A plant variety that has been produced in cultivation by selective breeding.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A plant variety that has been produced in cultivation by selective breeding.
A cultivated plant variety with distinctive and stable characteristics, maintained through controlled propagation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage between UK and US English; the term is used identically in horticultural and botanical contexts.
Connotations
Scientific, precise, associated with agriculture, horticulture, gardening, and botany.
Frequency
Very low frequency in general discourse; high frequency in technical domains like botany, horticulture, agriculture, and serious gardening.
Grammar
How to Use “cultivar” in a Sentence
[Cultivar] + of + [plant species] (e.g., a cultivar of apple)[Plant species] + cultivar (e.g., a rose cultivar)The + [Cultivar name] + cultivar (e.g., the 'Honeycrisp' cultivar)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cultivar” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The cultivar name must be written in single quotes.
- Cultivar selection is crucial for viticulture.
American English
- The cultivar name should appear in single quotation marks.
- Cultivar development is a lengthy process.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in the agricultural and horticultural industries regarding product development, marketing, and intellectual property (plant breeders' rights).
Academic
Core term in botany, plant sciences, agriculture, and horticulture papers and textbooks.
Everyday
Rarely used outside of gardening enthusiasts or in contexts like plant labels or seed catalogues.
Technical
Precise term for a distinct, named plant type maintained by asexual propagation or controlled seed production.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cultivar”
- Using 'cultivar' interchangeably with 'species' or 'genus'.
- Pronouncing it as /kʌlˈtaɪvɑːr/.
- Assuming it applies to animals or microorganisms.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A hybrid results from crossing two different species or varieties. A cultivar is a cultivated variety that can be a hybrid, but can also be a selection from a single species. 'Cultivar' describes its status (cultivated and named), not its genetic origin.
According to the International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants (ICNCP), cultivar names are written within single quotes (e.g., *Rosa* 'Peace') or preceded by "cv." They are not italicized.
Yes, if you discover or breed a distinct, uniform, and stable plant. However, to be officially recognized, it should be registered with the appropriate International Cultivar Registration Authority (ICRA).
In botany, 'variety' (abbreviated var.) is a formal taxonomic rank below subspecies, denoting a naturally occurring variation. A 'cultivar' is a cultivated variety, created or selected by humans, and not necessarily corresponding to a botanical variety.
A plant variety that has been produced in cultivation by selective breeding.
Cultivar is usually technical/formal in register.
Cultivar: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkʌltɪvɑː/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkʌltəˌvɑːr/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: CULTIvate + VARiety = CULTIVAR. A variety you cultivate.
Conceptual Metaphor
A cultivar is a 'brand' or 'designer version' of a plant species, created for specific human purposes (beauty, yield, hardiness).
Practice
Quiz
What is the defining characteristic of a cultivar?