pedigree

noun

ped·​i·​gree ˈpe-də-ˌgrē 

1

: a register recording a line of ancestors

The pedigree traces the family back to the 18th century.

2

a

: 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

3

a

: 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

pedigreed

ˈpe-də-ˌgrēd 

adjective

or pedigree

Synonyms of pedigree

• lineage
• ancestry
• genealogy
• breeding
• origin

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

But in between, there was the winning pedigree and Hall of Fame talent in Pittsburgh, and more specifically Todd Reirden, the Penguins’ assistant coach at the time and currently behind the Philadelphia Flyers bench. —Arpon Basu, New York Times, 2 Feb. 2026

Beshear doesn’t shy from his Democratic pedigree, or stray from much of the party’s orthodoxy. —Los Angeles Times, 1 Feb. 2026

Land the pedigree of a Giannis, and the kid stuff can be bypassed, as the Knicks did with their trade for Jalen Brunson and the Cavaliers with their deal for Donovan Mitchell. —Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 31 Jan. 2026

Despite his impressive pedigree, few diners have experienced Peters' cooking. —Matthew Odam, Austin American Statesman, 30 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English pedegru, from Anglo-French pé de grue, literally, crane's foot; from the shape made by the lines of a genealogical chart

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

pedigree

noun

ped·​i·​gree ˈped-ə-ˌgrē 

1

: a table or list showing the line of ancestors of a person or animal

2

: an ancestral line : lineage

3

: purity of breed recorded by a pedigree

pedigreed

-ˌgrēd 

adjective

Medical Definition

pedigree

noun

ped·​i·​gree ˈped-ə-ˌgrē 

: a record of the ancestry of an individual

the pedigree of a diabetic patient