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 What was once a holy ground shepherded by a rapturous man simply known as Pastor (Steven Pasquale), model evangelical teen Dawn O’Keefe (Alyse Alan Louis) and her angelic group of Promise Keeper Girls morphs into a breeding ground for sin. Brittani Samuel, Washington Post, 20 Mar. 2024 Some will stop to rest and refuel before continuing to northern breeding grounds, while others will breed here and stay until the end of the summer. Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Feb. 2024 Across the state, areas adjacent to or surrounding these breeding grounds will be closed to visitors. The Arizona Republic, 21 Feb. 2024 Each winter, the upper Mississippi River plays host to hundreds of bald eagles that are migrating to and from their breeding grounds. Journal Sentinel, 28 Feb. 2024 Fewer whales and calves were seen at breeding grounds during that time, as well. Li Cohen, CBS News, 28 Feb. 2024 And Paris, a capital with a considerable North African diaspora, is one of the most concentrated soccer breeding grounds, blessed with gifted players everywhere. Henry Flynn, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2024 The government has become so bloated that office buildings in DC have become breeding grounds for bureaucrats’ personal agendas at our expense. Charlotte Observer, 29 Feb. 2024 Once on the brink of extinction, elephant seals are expanding north into new breeding grounds along the California coast, turning long-empty beaches into a ruckus of roars, grunts, chirps and moans. Lisa M. Krieger, The Mercury News, 27 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'breeding ground.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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 28 Mar. 2024.

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
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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