inbreeding

noun

in·​breed·​ing ˈin-ˈbrē-diŋ 

1

: the interbreeding of closely related individuals especially to preserve and fix desirable characters of and to eliminate unfavorable characters from a stock

2

: confinement to a narrow range or a local or limited field of choice

Examples of inbreeding in a Sentence

genetic defects caused by inbreeding

Recent Examples on the Web

This experiment also found low genetic diversity and high inbreeding among corpse flowers in institutions, confirming the initial findings. —Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Apr. 2025

However, the corpse flower is not dead and buried just yet; this study's findings highlight the urgency of creating a global genetic database and for international cooperation in finding new ways to prevent inbreeding. —New Atlas, 4 Apr. 2025

That included species already known to be at risk, such as the kākāpō, a ground-living New Zealand parrot that suffers from inbreeding and infertility. —Byelizabeth Pennisi, science.org, 29 Jan. 2025

The panther population at one point in the 1990s dropped to around 50 animals, in part because of inbreeding that caused numerous health problems. —CBS News, 3 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1842, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for inbreeding

• acceding
• cheerleading
• conceding
• crossbreeding
• exceeding
• impeding
• misleading
• misreading
• preceding
• proceeding
• proofreading
• receding

Kids Definition

inbreeding

noun

in·​breed·​ing

ˈin-ˌbrēd-iŋ

: the interbreeding of closely related individuals especially to preserve desirable characteristics and eliminate undesirable characteristics from a stock

Medical Definition

inbreeding

noun

in·​breed·​ing ˈin-ˈbrēd-iŋ 

: the interbreeding of closely related individuals especially to preserve and fix desirable characters of and to eliminate unfavorable characters from a stock compare linebreeding, outbreeding