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

In Victoria, the animals’ numbers are dwindling because of predation by cats, habitat loss due to logging and wildfires, climate change and inbreeding. —Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 June 2025

These include the risk of unintentional inbreeding and the challenge of tracing family connections when health issues arise. —William A. Haseltine, Forbes.com, 4 June 2025

In fact, intense inbreeding can explain nearly all the health problems faced by Europe’s royal families. —Grrlscientist, Forbes.com, 11 May 2025

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

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