breeder

noun

breed·​er ˈbrē-dər How to pronounce breeder (audio)
: one that breeds: such as
a
: an animal or plant kept for propagation
b
: one engaged in the breeding of a specified organism
c
: a nuclear reactor designed to produce more fissionable material than it uses as fuel

called also breeder reactor

Examples of breeder in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Federal authorities have raided the East Texas ranch of a dog breeder who was recorded on video shooting and killing one of her animals. J.d. Miles, CBS News, 10 Jan. 2026 That was good news for breeders, Fessenden said, because folks arriving from New York, Ohio or Iowa were bringing diverse animal genetics that Western ranchers didn’t have access to. John Wenzel, Denver Post, 7 Jan. 2026 The primates are raised for at least four years before being used in trials, and breeders did not increase their populations during an investment downturn in 2023. Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 5 Jan. 2026 The breeder’s association did not return a request for comment Friday afternoon. Emily Holshouser, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for breeder

Word History

First Known Use

1529, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of breeder was in 1529

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Cite this Entry

“Breeder.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/breeder. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.

Medical Definition

breeder

noun
breed·​er
: one that breeds: as
a
: an animal or plant kept for propagation
b
: one engaged in the breeding of a specified organism

More from Merriam-Webster on breeder

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