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

Contaminants, noise, prey availability and inbreeding are among the threats Southern Residents face. —Amaris Encinas, USA TODAY, 4 Jan. 2025

In isolated populations like Sardinia’s, where inbreeding was common, such rare variants can become more frequent, a phenomenon called the founder effect. —science.org, 21 Nov. 2024

Increasingly isolated from each other due to fragmented habitats, the birds may be suffering from dangerous inbreeding. —Lisa M. Krieger, The Mercury News, 30 Nov. 2024

The population size, as well as inbreeding level and genetic diversity, remained stable for the next 6,000 years until their extinction. —Jeanne Timmons, Ars Technica, 29 June 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