pedigree

noun

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ped·i·gree | \ ˈpe-də-ˌgrē

Definition of pedigree

1 : a register recording a line of ancestors The pedigree traces the family back to the 18th century.

2a : an ancestral line : lineage That horse has an impressive pedigree.

b : the origin and the history of something Democracy's pedigree stretches back to ancient Greece. broadly : background, history

3a : a distinguished ancestry actions spoke louder than pedigrees in the trenches— Dixon Wecter

b : the recorded purity of breed of an individual or strain vouch for a horse's pedigree

Other Words from pedigree Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More About pedigree

Examples of pedigree in a Sentence

That horse has an impressive pedigree. What is the dog's pedigree? The puppy came with papers proving its pedigree. Democracy is an idea with a pedigree stretching back to ancient Greece. The company has an excellent pedigree with over a century in the business.

Recent Examples on the Web When the 682-hp, 6200-plus-pound three-row SUV isn't shocking unsuspecting passengers with its heart-stopping takeoffs and snarling, supercharged soundtrack, Cadillac's luxury pedigree should be on full display. — Eric Stafford, Car and Driver, 11 May 2022 That was a good sign, Rodriguez thought, as was Franco’s pedigree. — New York Times, 31 Mar. 2022 Could a national title pedigree as a coordinator be enough to allay concerns about a lack of head coaching experience? — Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2021 Because of his cinematic pedigree and near-consistent box office success, those who have worked with Nolan before attest his contracts are more exacting than his peers’. — Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 14 Sep. 2021 Skyy Moore is another wide receiver with a first-round pedigree who got lost in the shuffle of such a loaded class. — Nate Atkins, The Indianapolis Star, 29 Apr. 2022 Cannes organizers have explained the gap in representation by saying that there might not be enough female directors with the same pedigree as their male counterparts, an argument that has infuriated many in the creative community. — Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 14 Apr. 2022 But even with the pedigree in the pool, Léon wasn’t too keen on swimming initially. — Jenna Ortiz, The Arizona Republic, 7 Apr. 2022 In the first Final Four showdown of the day, Bill Self and the No. 1 seed Kansas Jayhawks (32-6) face another team with a championship pedigree in Jay Wright and the No. 2 seed Villanova Wildcats (30-7) on Saturday with tipoff coming at 3:09 p.m. — oregonlive, 2 Apr. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'pedigree.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.