interbreed

verb

in·​ter·​breed ˌin-tər-ˈbrēd 

interbred ˌin-tər-ˈbred  ; interbreeding

intransitive verb

: to breed together: such as

a

: crossbreed

b

: to breed within a closed population

transitive verb

: to cause to breed together

Examples of interbreed in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Barred owls displace spotted owls, disrupt their nesting, compete for food and in some cases, have interbred or killed spotted owls. —Greta Cross, USA TODAY, 11 Mar. 2025

Now, two separate studies published in the journals Science and Nature in December have dated this period of interbreeding more precisely than ever. —Margherita Bassi, Smithsonian Magazine, 31 Dec. 2024

After the interbreeding, natural selection kept a few traits from Neanderthals while ditching many more. —Evan Bush, NBC News, 12 Dec. 2024

This hybrid discovery underscores the complex interactions between ancient human species, showing that Neanderthals were not isolated but part of a dynamic web of migration and interbreeding. —Anna Nordseth, Discover Magazine, 2 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1859, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Rhymes for interbreed

• aniseed
• centipede
• cottonseed
• disagreed
• ganymede
• guaranteed
• intercede
• overspeed
• pedigreed
• refereed
• supercede
• supersede

Kids Definition

interbreed

verb

in·​ter·​breed ˌint-ər-ˈbrēd 

interbred -ˈbred  ; interbreeding

: to breed or cause to breed together: as

a

: crossbreed

b

: to breed within a population

Medical Definition

interbreed

verb

in·​ter·​breed ˌint-ər-ˈbrēd 

interbred -ˈbred  ; interbreeding

intransitive verb

: to breed together: as

a

: crossbreed

b

: to breed within a closed population

transitive verb

: to cause to breed together