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 customs and manners of polite society

4

: the sexual propagation of plants or animals

Synonyms of breeding

• 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

Seyia came to Cincinnati through a breeding recommendation and was paired with Faru, a male black rhino. —Bebe Hodges, Cincinnati Enquirer, 8 Nov. 2025

Salvin’s albatross spend most of their lives flying and typically forage near New Zealand and Australia around their breeding period. —Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 5 Nov. 2025

The two rhinos have been paired as potential breeding partners via the multi-zoo Eastern Black Rhino Species Survival Plan. —Jim Higgins, jsonline.com, 5 Nov. 2025

The former race dog, who had been used for breeding, started sleeping with the fluffy toy tucked under her arm. —Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 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