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 proprieties

4

: the sexual propagation of plants or animals

Synonyms

• ancestry
• birth
• blood
• bloodline
• descent
• extraction
• family tree
• genealogy
• line
• lineage
• origin
• parentage
• pedigree
• stock
• strain

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

Zoo officials will continue their breeding and conservation programs with a focus on sustaining endangered reptilian species. —Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 June 2025

The state officially entered the second phase of its wolf conservation efforts this spring, after four breeding pairs of wolves had pups who survived through December two years in a row. —Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 11 June 2025

The entire population of red wolves, both wild and captive, descends from merely 14 founders of the captive breeding program. —Alex Erwin, The Conversation, 6 June 2025

The captive breeding population is around 240 that live in 45 facilities across the country Occasionally, chicks fall into the wolf enclosure, which the predators find to be a tasty snack. —Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 4 June 2025

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