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

• lineage
• ancestry
• pedigree
• origin
• genealogy
• family

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

Watch for more introductions in the coming years as breeding efforts begin to yield results. —Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 3 Oct. 2025

The law that banned whale captivity did not apply to the existing population of captive whales at Marineland, but the park had to comply with another part of the law that forbade breeding. —CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2025

How captive breeding program has helped condor populations This year’s group of adolescent condors were hatched and raised as a part of captive breeding programs at the Oregon Zoo and the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. —John Leos, AZCentral.com, 1 Oct. 2025

The infant’s parents, who came to the zoo in 2021 with the intention of breeding, welcomed female Fera in 2024. —Brian Anthony Hernandez, PEOPLE, 27 Sep. 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