breeding

noun

breed·​ing ˈbrē-diŋ 

1

: the action or process of bearing or generating

2

: ancestry

3

a

archaic : education

she had her breeding at my father's charge

—William Shakespeare

b

: training in or observance of the proprieties

4

: the sexual propagation of plants or animals

Synonyms

• ancestry
• birth
• blood
• bloodline
• descent
• extraction
• family tree
• genealogy
• line
• lineage
• origin
• parentage
• pedigree
• stock
• strain

Examples of breeding in a Sentence

She became involved in the breeding of sled dogs.

His politeness shows good breeding.

a person who lacks breeding

Recent Examples on the Web

While Rob and Jim both served long tenures on Walmart’s board, Alice has mostly focused her energy on pursuits such as art curation, horse breeding and philanthropy. —Sylvan Lebrun, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025

Hatching plans to save the species The breeding effort was part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Species Survival Plan, which works to ensure not only the continuation of species but also their genetic diversity. —Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 3 Apr. 2025

Warming temperatures and moist soils are the perfect breeding environment for insects to emerge. —Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 3 Apr. 2025

Due to breeding, the fluffy white rescue dog is partially paralyzed and must use a wheelchair as his back legs. —Greta Cross, USA TODAY, 25 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing breeding

• breeding ground
• breeding season
• selective breeding

Rhymes for breeding

• beading
• bleeding
• ceding
• feeding
• heeding
• kneading
• leading
• needing
• pleading
• reding
• seeding
• speeding

Kids Definition

breeding

noun

breed·​ing

1

: ancestry sense 1

2

: training especially in manners

3

: the producing and raising of plants or animals by sexual reproduction