thoroughbred

1 of 2

adjective

thor·​ough·​bred ˈthər-ə-ˌbred How to pronounce thoroughbred (audio)
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

Illustration of thoroughbred
  • Thoroughbred

Examples of thoroughbred in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Thousands of thoroughbred fans flock to the farm each year to get up-close looks at the retirees, with Blowen sometimes leading the tours. Bruce Schreiner, USA TODAY, 3 Jan. 2024 Barbara Jo Rubin becomes the first female jockey to win a race at an American thoroughbred track. Iliana Limón Romero, Los Angeles Times, 22 Feb. 2024 The Stronach Group, which does business as 1/ST, operates Santa Anita and several other thoroughbred tracks in North America. Tim Reynolds, USA TODAY, 26 Jan. 2024 Racing’s own controversies — including a shrinking fan base, the proliferation of other forms of sports gambling and concerns about animal cruelty in the wake of thoroughbred deaths — haven’t helped either. Baltimore Sun Editorial Board, Baltimore Sun, 10 Jan. 2024 One of the most famous of those horses is the thoroughbred stallion Cactus Ridge, who retired undefeated in 2004. Alicia Dennis, Peoplemag, 10 Feb. 2024 As much attention is rightly given to Maryland’s thoroughbred industry and its $2 billion overall annual economic impact (of which racing is just a part), this opportunity to boost the economically depressed, predominantly Black neighborhood in Northwest Baltimore should loom large. Baltimore Sun Editorial Board, Baltimore Sun, 10 Jan. 2024 That could change Saturday when National Treasure contests the richest thoroughbred race in Florida, the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational at Gulfstream Park. Clark Spencer, Miami Herald, 25 Jan. 2024 Phantom Is and IIs are great, but this thing is a thoroughbred. Basem Wasef, Robb Report, 5 Dec. 2023
Noun
Each time the pack galloped closer to the spectators, the rhythmic thuds of the thoroughbreds echoed across the field. Christina Goldbaum, New York Times, 7 Feb. 2024 The couple own about two dozen horses, a mix of thoroughbreds and quarter horses that mostly run in New Mexico and Arizona. John Cherwa, Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2023 The Derby is open to 3-year-old thoroughbreds who compile enough points in Road to the Kentucky Derby prep races. James Graham, BostonGlobe.com, 5 May 2023 All thoroughbreds turn a year older on the first day of the new year. Austin Knoblauch, Los Angeles Times, 2 Jan. 2024 That first year, thoroughbreds had fatal injuries at the rate of two per 1,000 starts. Joe Drape, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2023 That first year, thoroughbreds had fatal injuries at the rate of 2 per 1,000 starts. Joe Drape, BostonGlobe.com, 2 Sep. 2023 She was surrounded by teeny-boppers with shiny boots and beautiful thoroughbreds with braided manes and tails. Sarah Bahr, New York Times, 24 Oct. 2023 Some people in the horse racing industry are calling the deaths of 12 thoroughbreds at Churchill Downs a string of bad luck. Stephanie Kuzydym, The Courier-Journal, 6 June 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'thoroughbred.' 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

Adjective

1701, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Noun

1728, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of thoroughbred was in 1701

Dictionary Entries Near thoroughbred

Cite this Entry

“Thoroughbred.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thoroughbred. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

thoroughbred

1 of 2 adjective
thor·​ough·​bred ˈthər-ə-ˌbred How to pronounce thoroughbred (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on thoroughbred

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