breeding

noun

breed·​ing ˈbrē-diŋ 

1

: the action or process of bearing or generating

2

: ancestry

3

a

archaic : education

… she had her breeding at my father's charge.

—William Shakespeare

b

: training in or observance of the customs and manners of polite society

4

: the sexual propagation of plants or animals

Synonyms of breeding

• lineage
• ancestry
• pedigree
• origin
• genealogy
• family

Examples of breeding in a Sentence

She became involved in the breeding of sled dogs.

His politeness shows good breeding.

a person who lacks breeding

Recent Examples on the Web

But, to be on the safe side, researchers decided to bring in a few of their key breeding stock — fragments of some of the last naturally occurring Elkhorn coral on the Florida reef — in case things get worse. — Alex Harris july 23, Miami Herald, 23 July 2026

Suzanne Punch-Randall is involved in horse breeding and competition. — David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 23 July 2026

Transformation approaches enable researchers to create or refine novel mechanisms that are not easily accessible by simple breeding. — Steve Strauss, The Conversation, 22 July 2026

Keeping your lawn and garden well-maintained can also help reduce grasshopper populations by destroying their breeding habitat. — The Spruce, 21 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing breeding

• breeding ground
• breeding season
• selective breeding

Rhymes for breeding

• beading
• bleeding
• ceding
• feeding
• heeding
• kneading
• leading
• needing
• pleading
• reding
• seeding
• speeding

Kids Definition

breeding

noun

breed·​ing

1

: ancestry sense 1

2

: training especially in manners

3

: the producing and raising of plants or animals by sexual reproduction