breeding

noun

breed·​ing ˈbrē-diŋ 

1

: the action or process of bearing or generating

2

: ancestry

3

a

archaic : education

she had her breeding at my father's charge

—William Shakespeare

b

: training in or observance of the proprieties

4

: the sexual propagation of plants or animals

Synonyms

• ancestry
• birth
• blood
• bloodline
• descent
• extraction
• family tree
• genealogy
• line
• lineage
• origin
• parentage
• pedigree
• stock
• strain

Examples of breeding in a Sentence

She became involved in the breeding of sled dogs.

His politeness shows good breeding.

a person who lacks breeding

Recent Examples on the Web

The water fills ponds, providing relief for wildlife and a prime setting for amphibian breeding. —Carlyn Kranking, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Jan. 2025

The black-winged petrel—a seabird whose breeding success was once as low as 2.5%—experienced a dramatic increase to 67% following the removal of the rodents, according to an August 2022 study published in Bird Conservation International. —Scott Travers, Forbes, 9 Jan. 2025

The day before the experiment, randomly selected males and females from different breeding tanks were put into separate glass tanks. —Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 8 Jan. 2025

Many men earned money through breeding and betting. —U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing breeding

• breeding ground
• breeding season
• selective breeding

Kids Definition

breeding

noun

breed·​ing

1

: ancestry sense 1

2

: training especially in manners

3

: the producing and raising of plants or animals by sexual reproduction