breeding ground

noun

1

: the place to which animals go to breed

2

: a place or set of circumstances suitable for or favorable to growth and development

hurricane breeding grounds

Synonyms of breeding ground

• center
• nursery
• nest
• capital

Examples of breeding ground in a Sentence

a breeding ground for seals

The Gulf of Mexico is a breeding ground for hurricanes.

The company's casual atmosphere serves as a breeding ground for innovation.

Recent Examples on the Web

Apocalypse movies are breeding grounds for unlikely posses, and this Australian zom-com from writer-director Abe Forsythe is no exception. —Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Feb. 2026

Importance of Cleaning Lawn Debris Before Spring Clearing your lawn of debris, such as matted leaves and branches, increases airflow, allows sunlight to penetrate, and prevents disease and pests, as decaying matter is a breeding ground for fungal diseases like snow mold. —Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 21 Feb. 2026

Shower heads are breeding grounds for mold because of the constant moisture, humidity, and minerals that are found in some water supplies. —Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 19 Feb. 2026

The life of a globe-trotting environmentalist is a breeding ground for moral quandaries. —Rob Wolfe, The Atlantic, 19 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1630, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for breeding ground

• aboveground
• battleground
• belowground
• paperbound
• turnaround
• ultrasound
• underground
• wraparound
• abound
• aground
• around
• astound

Kids Definition

breeding ground

noun

1

: the place where animals go to breed

2

: a place or situation that helps or allows something to grow or develop

an expanse of warm ocean that is a breeding ground for hurricanes