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

Excess moisture trapped inside creates a breeding ground for mold. —Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Apr. 2026

While the natural oils produced by the scalp create a protective barrier, having too much oil can create a perfect breeding ground for other microbes that disrupt the scalp's natural state. —Cory Martin, Verywell Health, 2 Apr. 2026

Russian authorities have said that mobile internet outages are necessary to stop attacks by Ukrainian drones, and that Telegram is turning into a breeding ground for terrorism. —Yuliya Talmazan, NBC news, 31 Mar. 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