Illustration of thoroughbred
- Thoroughbred
thor·ough·bred
ˈthər-ə-ˌbred 
ˈthə-rə-
1
: bred from the best blood through a long line : purebred
thoroughbred dogs
2
a
Thoroughbred
: of, relating to, or being a Thoroughbred horse
b
: having characteristics resembling those of a Thoroughbred
3
: thoroughly trained or skilled
a thoroughbred soldier
1
: a purebred or pedigreed animal
2
Thoroughbred
: any of an English breed of light speedy horses kept chiefly for racing that originated from crosses between English mares of uncertain ancestry and Arabian stallions
3
: a thoroughly educated or skilled person
Synonyms of thoroughbred
Examples of thoroughbred in a Sentence
Adjective
a thoroughbred dog
Recent Examples on the Web
John Wenzel, Denver Post, 7 Jan. 2026
The thoroughbred association reported a significant decline in betting at Hawthorne in 2025, to $51 million, down from a handle of nearly $90 million in 2024, mostly from a drop in out-of-state simulcast betting, and a reduction in purses from nearly $11 million to $8 million.
—Robert McCoppin, Chicago Tribune, 7 Jan. 2026
Abigail Hasebroock, Sun Sentinel, 10 Jan. 2026
Per The Wall Street Journal, he was originally introduced to the property by his horse trainer, who was looking at a small part of it for keeping thoroughbreds.
—Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 18 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for thoroughbred
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Adjective
Stockyard roots The Stock Show’s beginnings can be traced to the Denver Blood Stock Association’s Blood Stock Fair, an 1874 event that showed thoroughbred cattle such as shorthorns and Herefords, but also featured five days of horse racing, Fessenden said.
—John Wenzel, Denver Post, 7 Jan. 2026
The thoroughbred association reported a significant decline in betting at Hawthorne in 2025, to $51 million, down from a handle of nearly $90 million in 2024, mostly from a drop in out-of-state simulcast betting, and a reduction in purses from nearly $11 million to $8 million.
—Robert McCoppin, Chicago Tribune, 7 Jan. 2026
Noun
Of the roughly 30 horses there, about half are thoroughbreds.
—Abigail Hasebroock, Sun Sentinel, 10 Jan. 2026
Per The Wall Street Journal, he was originally introduced to the property by his horse trainer, who was looking at a small part of it for keeping thoroughbreds.
—Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 18 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for thoroughbred
Cite this Entry
“Thoroughbred.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thoroughbred. Accessed 22 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
thoroughbred
1 of 2 adjective
thor·ough·bred
ˈthər-ə-ˌbred
ˈthə-rə-
1
: bred from the best stock through a long line : purebred
thoroughbred dogs
2
capitalized
: of, relating to, or being a Thoroughbred horse
thoroughbred
2 of 2 noun1
: a purebred or pedigreed animal
2
capitalized
: any of an English breed of light speedy horses kept chiefly for racing
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