breeding ground

noun

1
: the place to which animals go to breed
2
: a place or set of circumstances suitable for or favorable to growth and development
hurricane breeding grounds

Examples of breeding ground in a Sentence

a breeding ground for seals The Gulf of Mexico is a breeding ground for hurricanes. The company's casual atmosphere serves as a breeding ground for innovation.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Crops had to be cut, stacked, and heated in vats that attracted vermin and were a breeding ground for viruses. Omari Weekes, The Atlantic, 13 Feb. 2025 Many of the Florida bites were likely from blacktip sharks, which occupy breeding grounds that stretch along the northeast Florida coastline, the Florida Museum of Natural History noted in the statement. Katie Hunt, CNN, 11 Feb. 2025 Countries like Brazil have already taken steps to regulate platforms like X, demonstrating that governments can (and should) intervene when social media becomes a breeding ground for extremism. Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 24 Jan. 2025 One of the world’s great drinking cities, Belfast and its charming, chaotic pub scene is a perfect breeding ground for poitín’s revival — something that Dave Mulligan, the owner of Bán Poitín, noted while perfecting the Belfast Coffee recipe. Jonathan Thompson, Travel + Leisure, 30 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for breeding ground 

Word History

First Known Use

1630, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of breeding ground was in 1630

Dictionary Entries Near breeding ground

Cite this Entry

“Breeding ground.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/breeding%20ground. Accessed 20 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

breeding ground

noun
1
: the place where animals go to breed
2
: a place or situation that helps or allows something to grow or develop
an expanse of warm ocean that is a breeding ground for hurricanes
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