hybrid

1 of 2

noun

hy·​brid ˈhī-brəd How to pronounce hybrid (audio)
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
hybridism noun
hybridity noun

hybrid

2 of 2

adjective

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
a hybrid style
3
: having two different types of components performing essentially the same function
a hybrid vehicle

Examples of hybrid in a Sentence

Noun a hybrid of two roses The band plays a hybrid of jazz and rock. Adjective a hybrid rose called "American Beauty" was actually first developed in France
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
This mattress-in-a-box brand caters to every kind of sleeper, offering memory foam, innerspring, and hybrid options in a variety of firmness levels. Jenifer Calle, Glamour, 29 Nov. 2024 This hybrid mattress combines gel memory foam, high-density foam, and a plush pillow top for a medium-firm feel that relieves pressure and keeps you cool. Maggie Horton, People.com, 28 Nov. 2024
Adjective
View 1 Images Scientists have engineered a hybrid mouse with a gene that predates all animal life. Michael Irving, New Atlas, 28 Nov. 2024 Remote and hybrid work models have surged in the post-Covid world, proving that an improved work-life balance has a largely positive effect on employee productivity. Hilary Tetenbaum, The Enquirer, 28 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for hybrid 

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Latin hybrida

First Known Use

Noun

1601, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

circa 1775, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of hybrid was in 1601

Dictionary Entries Near hybrid

Cite this Entry

“Hybrid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hybrid. Accessed 12 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

hybrid

noun
hy·​brid
ˈhī-brəd
1
: an offspring of two animals or plants of different subspecies, breeds, varieties, species, or genera
2
: a person whose background is a blend of two diverse cultures or traditions
3
: something having or produced by a combination or two or more distinct elements
4
: something having two different types of components performing essentially the same function
a hybrid vehicle
hybrid adjective

Medical Definition

hybrid

noun
hy·​brid ˈhī-brəd How to pronounce hybrid (audio)
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
hybrid adjective
hybridism noun
hybridity noun
plural hybridities

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

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