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

Diego was immediately flown back to the Galápagos to join a last-ditch breeding program in 1977. —Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 27 Apr. 2025

Since the org partnered with Three Camel Lodge in 2020 to expand the breeding program, visitors to the camp can meet the stoic (but still quite cute and fluffy) guardian dogs. —AFAR Media, 25 Apr. 2025

Similarly, Altitude Genetics emphasizes stable genetics, ensuring that every strain undergoes extensive breeding for consistency. —Matt Rozo, Mercury News, 24 Apr. 2025

That program including opening the mouth to the ocean, restoring tidal wetlands, creating new endangered bird breeding habitat and preserving the surrounding coastal sage scrub habitat vital for endangered songbirds, such as the Belding’s savannah sparrow. —Jeff Regan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Apr. 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