interbreed

verb

in·​ter·​breed ˌin-tər-ˈbrēd 

interbred ˌin-tər-ˈbred  ; interbreeding

intransitive verb

: to breed together: such as

a

: crossbreed

b

: to breed within a closed population

transitive verb

: to cause to breed together

Examples of interbreed in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Scientists found evidence years ago that our species, Homo sapiens, had interbred with now-extinct human relatives, including Neanderthals and Denisovans. — Taylor Nicioli, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2026

Hundreds of thousands of years ago, the ancestors of northern populations interbred with another species of shiner, leaving behind a genetic signature of ancient hybridization that survives today, but only in certain drainages. — David Duvernell, The Conversation, 24 Aug. 2026

Breed histories generally point instead to local cats interbreeding with longhaired cats brought to the region by sailors or settlers. — Pat Mueller, USA Today, 14 Aug. 2026

Super Archaic Something else suggested by other data is that the Denisovan population had also undergone a separate episode of interbreeding, this with a far older lineage. — ArsTechnica, 31 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1859, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Rhymes for interbreed

• aniseed
• centipede
• cottonseed
• disagreed
• ganymede
• guaranteed
• intercede
• overspeed
• pedigreed
• refereed
• supercede
• supersede

Kids Definition

interbreed

verb

in·​ter·​breed ˌint-ər-ˈbrēd 

interbred -ˈbred  ; interbreeding

: to breed or cause to breed together: as

a

: crossbreed

b

: to breed within a population

Medical Definition

interbreed

verb

in·​ter·​breed ˌint-ər-ˈbrēd 

interbred -ˈbred  ; interbreeding

intransitive verb

: to breed together: as

a

: crossbreed

b

: to breed within a closed population

transitive verb

: to cause to breed together