thoroughbred

1 of 2

adjective

thor·​ough·​bred ˈthər-ə-ˌbred 

ˈthə-rə-

1

: bred from the best blood through a long line : purebred

thoroughbred dogs

2

a

capitalized : of, relating to, or being a Thoroughbred horse

b

: having characteristics resembling those of a Thoroughbred

3

: thoroughly trained or skilled

a thoroughbred soldier

thoroughbred

2 of 2

noun

1

: a purebred or pedigreed animal

2

capitalized : any of an English breed of light speedy horses kept chiefly for racing that originated from crosses between English mares of uncertain ancestry and Arabian stallions

3

: a thoroughly educated or skilled person

Illustration of thoroughbred

• Thoroughbred

Synonyms

Adjective

• blooded
• full-blood
• full-blooded
• pedigreed
• pedigree
• pure-blooded
• pure-blood
• purebred

Examples of thoroughbred in a Sentence

Adjective

a thoroughbred dog

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Fairgrounds officials have said drilling the tunnel beneath their property would halt activities such as the San Diego County Fair, the annual thoroughbred horse races and other revenue-producing activities for nearly a decade. —Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Feb. 2025

The gray 6-year-old didn’t just win the richest thoroughbred race in Florida — the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational. —Clark Spencer, Miami Herald, 26 Jan. 2025

Noun

At Pebbles Beach, watch the early morning procession of thoroughbreds from the nearby race track led into the sea for a bath and a swim. —Patrick Scott, New York Times, 16 Jan. 2025

Advertisement At Calumet Farm in central Kentucky, the thoroughbreds were led to their stalls Sunday afternoon before freezing rain turned their pastures into a slick glaze of snow and ice. —Patrick Whittle and Brian Witte, Los Angeles Times, 6 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1701, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Noun

1728, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

thoroughbred

1 of 2 adjective

thor·​ough·​bred ˈthər-ə-ˌbred 

ˈthə-rə-

1

: bred from the best stock through a long line : purebred

thoroughbred dogs

2

capitalized : of, relating to, or being a Thoroughbred horse

thoroughbred

2 of 2 noun

1

: a purebred or pedigreed animal

2

capitalized : any of an English breed of light speedy horses kept chiefly for racing