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

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

The three-year-old thoroughbred finished ahead of 18 other horses on a muddy track at Churchill Downs Racetrack on May 3 but will not be looking to repeat the feat at the Pimlico Race Course on Saturday. —Ben Church, CNN Money, 17 May 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