thoroughbred

1 of 2

adjective

thor·​ough·​bred ˈthər-ə-ˌbred 

ˈthə-rə-

1

: bred from the best blood through a long line : purebred

thoroughbred dogs

2

a

capitalized : of, relating to, or being a Thoroughbred horse

b

: having characteristics resembling those of a Thoroughbred

3

: thoroughly trained or skilled

a thoroughbred soldier

thoroughbred

2 of 2

noun

1

: a purebred or pedigreed animal

2

capitalized : 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

Illustration of thoroughbred

• Thoroughbred

Synonyms

Adjective

• pedigree
• blooded
• pedigreed

Examples of thoroughbred in a Sentence

Adjective

a thoroughbred dog

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Rapace’s kit — with that long thoroughbred stride somehow made greater by the black grosgrain stripes, the velocity of it all filling that billow in the cape — cut a blistering path down the Bugonia carpet. —Guy Martin, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2025

Fasig-Tipton Digital will handle the major reduction of Harris Farms, the thoroughbred operation of the late California breeder and owner John C. Harris, from Aug. 14-19. —Bill Center, Mercury News, 8 Aug. 2025

Noun

As defined in a new list of the EMEA region’s top fast-growth tech companies, thoroughbreds are defined by market intelligence provider Dealroom as businesses that have generated $100 million in revenue over the last year. —Trevor Clawson, Forbes.com, 4 Sep. 2025

The 13-year-old off-the-track thoroughbred began to collapse from sleep deprivation in February, prompting her to document his condition and share his progress over a three-month journey of rehabilitation. —Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1701, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Noun

1728, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for thoroughbred

• abovesaid
• aforesaid
• arrowhead
• casinghead
• copperhead
• figurehead
• fountainhead
• gingerbread
• hammerhead
• infrared
• leatherhead
• letterhead

Kids 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 noun

1

: a purebred or pedigreed animal

2

capitalized : any of an English breed of light speedy horses kept chiefly for racing