1
: an offspring of two animals or plants of different subspecies, breeds, varieties, species, or genera
a hybrid of two roses
2
: a person whose background is a blend of two diverse cultures or traditions
3
a
: something heterogeneous in origin or composition : composite
hybrids of complementary DNA and RNA strands
a hybrid of medieval and Renaissance styles
b
: something (such as a power plant, vehicle, or electronic circuit) that has two different types of components performing essentially the same function
drives a hybrid that gets really good mileage
1
: relating to or produced from parents of different species, varieties, or breeds
a hybrid rose
hybrid cattle
2
: having or produced by a combination of two or more distinct elements : marked by heterogeneity in origin, composition, or appearance
… difficulties with normal English are … its hybrid vocabulary and the irregularities of English spelling.—
G. A. Miller
G. A. Millera hybrid style
3
: having two different types of components performing essentially the same function
a hybrid vehicle
Synonyms
Examples of hybrid in a Sentence
Noun
a hybrid of two roses
The band plays a hybrid of jazz and rock.
Recent Examples on the WebAnnie Blackman, Allure, 28 Nov. 2023
The Cyber Weekend mattress sale at Layla features discounts on the brand’s hybrid and memory foam beds, plus markdowns on its sheets, toppers, and pillows (including the beloved Kapok pillow).
—Sara Coughlin, SELF, 25 Nov. 2023
Type There are several different types of baby crib mattresses, including foam, innerspring, and hybrid mixes of both.
—Bridget Shirvell, Parents, 25 Nov. 2023
Similar in flavor to a chocolate chip cookie, but denser in texture like a brownie, this hybrid bar always manages to steal the show.
—Emily Nabors Hall, Southern Living, 24 Nov. 2023
Ryan Urrutia told The Post on Wednesday that Ann M. Garcia-Enriquez Middle School in San Elizario, Tex., was conducting hybrid learning in 2021 during the pandemic.
—Kyle Melnick, Washington Post, 23 Nov. 2023
The plug-in hybrid 296 and SF90 models led sales in the quarter, while the 812 Competizione A and the 4x4, 4-seat 12-cylinder €400,000 ($428,000) Purosangue were starting production.
—Neil Winton, Forbes, 13 Nov. 2023
The look, by Ariel Tejada, was something of a hybrid, the subversive vibe of an eyebrow slit and modish appeal of a ‘60s separated and spidery lash line combined—and then offered a subtle ombré finish for good measure.
—Calin Van Paris, Vogue, 17 Nov. 2023
Now that these nifty dryer-styler hybrids are available in different shapes and sizes, long gone are the days of painstakingly balancing hot tools and round brushes for bouncy and polished hair.
—Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 14 Nov. 2023
Garen Staglin, Forbes, 29 Nov. 2023
While observing the latter’s alchemical ability to upcycle trash into fashion treasure, he was inspired to revisit this hybrid technique.
—Liam Hess, Vogue, 29 Nov. 2023
The results from 500 office workers in the UK and 250 in France showed that Londoners have more flexibility overall to work from home, with most having hybrid setups.
—Eamon Akil Farhat, Fortune Europe, 28 Nov. 2023
Taking a cue from the popularity of hot honey and the wildly-successful YouTube series Hot Ones, the next generation of spicy or hybrid spicy flavors allows diners to get adventurous with their food and drink with a splash of sauce, a dip, or a drizzle, Zegler says.
—Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Nov. 2023
And Stellantis, an EV laggard, is pushing a new kind of hybrid technology rather than a battery-only solution, starting with its Ram pickup trucks.
—Laurent Belsie, The Christian Science Monitor, 28 Nov. 2023
Typically, a partisan organization is a PAC, super PAC, hybrid PAC, 501(c)(4), 501(c)(5) or 501(c)(6).
—Mary Radcliffe, ABC News, 27 Nov. 2023
Last year, hybrid sales dropped about 6% compared with 2021.
—Bysteve Mollman, Fortune, 27 Nov. 2023
However, a 2021 analysis of DNA suggests woolly mammoths evolved first and mated with another unknown lineage to produce Columbian mammoths, which were a hybrid species.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Nov. 2023
See More
Noun
The Serum Stick and Silk Canvas Primer are true makeup skin-care hybrids; neither purpose ever outweighs the other.
—Annie Blackman, Allure, 28 Nov. 2023
The Cyber Weekend mattress sale at Layla features discounts on the brand’s hybrid and memory foam beds, plus markdowns on its sheets, toppers, and pillows (including the beloved Kapok pillow).
—Sara Coughlin, SELF, 25 Nov. 2023
Type There are several different types of baby crib mattresses, including foam, innerspring, and hybrid mixes of both.
—Bridget Shirvell, Parents, 25 Nov. 2023
Similar in flavor to a chocolate chip cookie, but denser in texture like a brownie, this hybrid bar always manages to steal the show.
—Emily Nabors Hall, Southern Living, 24 Nov. 2023
Ryan Urrutia told The Post on Wednesday that Ann M. Garcia-Enriquez Middle School in San Elizario, Tex., was conducting hybrid learning in 2021 during the pandemic.
—Kyle Melnick, Washington Post, 23 Nov. 2023
The plug-in hybrid 296 and SF90 models led sales in the quarter, while the 812 Competizione A and the 4x4, 4-seat 12-cylinder €400,000 ($428,000) Purosangue were starting production.
—Neil Winton, Forbes, 13 Nov. 2023
The look, by Ariel Tejada, was something of a hybrid, the subversive vibe of an eyebrow slit and modish appeal of a ‘60s separated and spidery lash line combined—and then offered a subtle ombré finish for good measure.
—Calin Van Paris, Vogue, 17 Nov. 2023
Now that these nifty dryer-styler hybrids are available in different shapes and sizes, long gone are the days of painstakingly balancing hot tools and round brushes for bouncy and polished hair.
—Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 14 Nov. 2023
Adjective
The full implications of the rise of hybrid work are still emerging.
—Garen Staglin, Forbes, 29 Nov. 2023
While observing the latter’s alchemical ability to upcycle trash into fashion treasure, he was inspired to revisit this hybrid technique.
—Liam Hess, Vogue, 29 Nov. 2023
The results from 500 office workers in the UK and 250 in France showed that Londoners have more flexibility overall to work from home, with most having hybrid setups.
—Eamon Akil Farhat, Fortune Europe, 28 Nov. 2023
Taking a cue from the popularity of hot honey and the wildly-successful YouTube series Hot Ones, the next generation of spicy or hybrid spicy flavors allows diners to get adventurous with their food and drink with a splash of sauce, a dip, or a drizzle, Zegler says.
—Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Nov. 2023
And Stellantis, an EV laggard, is pushing a new kind of hybrid technology rather than a battery-only solution, starting with its Ram pickup trucks.
—Laurent Belsie, The Christian Science Monitor, 28 Nov. 2023
Typically, a partisan organization is a PAC, super PAC, hybrid PAC, 501(c)(4), 501(c)(5) or 501(c)(6).
—Mary Radcliffe, ABC News, 27 Nov. 2023
Last year, hybrid sales dropped about 6% compared with 2021.
—Bysteve Mollman, Fortune, 27 Nov. 2023
However, a 2021 analysis of DNA suggests woolly mammoths evolved first and mated with another unknown lineage to produce Columbian mammoths, which were a hybrid species.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Nov. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hybrid.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Phrases Containing hybrid
Articles Related to hybrid
Dictionary Entries Near hybrid
Cite this Entry
“Hybrid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hybrid. Accessed 7 Dec. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
hybrid
1 of 2 noun
hy·brid
ˈhī-brəd
1
: an offspring of parents with different genes especially when of different races, breeds, species, or genera
2
: something of mixed origin or composition
hybrid
2 of 2 adjective
: of or relating to a hybrid : of mixed origin
Medical Definition
hybrid
noun
hy·brid
ˈhī-brəd 
1
: an offspring of two animals or plants of different races, breeds, varieties, species, or genera
2
: something heterogeneous in origin or composition
artificial hybrids of DNA and RNA
somatic cell hybrids of mouse and human cells
Legal Definition
hybrid
adjective
hy·brid
ˈhī-brid
: consisting of diverse components: as
a
: of, relating to, or being a lawsuit brought by an employee under the Labor Management Relations Act against both the employer for breach of contract and the union for breach of the duty of fair representation
b
: of, relating to, or being representation of a criminal defendant in which the defendant represents himself or herself with the assistance of a lawyer
More from Merriam-Webster on hybrid
Nglish: Translation of hybrid for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of hybrid for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about hybrid
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share