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

These incidents have many travelers asking if cruises are breeding grounds for illnesses and germs? —Nathan Diller, USA Today, 11 May 2026

Allow the bird feeder to dry completely after cleaning, because moisture can create a breeding ground for mold and bacteria. —Maria Sabella, The Spruce, 7 May 2026

Spring migration is peaking as birds race from their southern wintering grounds to their breeding grounds in the north. —Kate Wong, Scientific American, 1 May 2026

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

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