inbreeding

noun

in·​breed·​ing ˈin-ˈbrē-diŋ 

1

: the interbreeding of closely related individuals especially to preserve and fix desirable characters of and to eliminate unfavorable characters from a stock

2

: confinement to a narrow range or a local or limited field of choice

Examples of inbreeding in a Sentence

genetic defects caused by inbreeding

Recent Examples on the Web

Lions to the south can’t get out and lions to the north can’t get in, forcing isolation and inbreeding. —Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2024

But the reality today is that the State Department simply cannot afford to continue its bad habits of offering inflexible career tracks, imposing self-defeating hiring constraints, and encouraging tribal inbreeding among its cloistered ranks. —William J. Burns, Foreign Affairs, 23 Sep. 2020

Starting a population from a few individuals leads to inbreeding, which can lead to shorter life spans or difficulty reproducing. —Darren Incorvaia, New York Times, 28 May 2024

In any small, closed breeding pool, harmful genetic mutations can build up over time, damaging animals’ health and reproductive success, and inbreeding exacerbates the problem. —Emily Anthes Chang W. Lee, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1842, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

inbreeding

noun

in·​breed·​ing

ˈin-ˌbrēd-iŋ

: the interbreeding of closely related individuals especially to preserve desirable characteristics and eliminate undesirable characteristics from a stock

Medical Definition

inbreeding

noun

in·​breed·​ing ˈin-ˈbrēd-iŋ 

: the interbreeding of closely related individuals especially to preserve and fix desirable characters of and to eliminate unfavorable characters from a stock compare linebreeding, outbreeding