breeding
12 synonyms for breeding, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The controlled mating of animals or plants to produce or improve particular characteristics.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use breeding
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
selective breeding
captive breeding
good breeding
The "good manners" sense sounds old-fashioned and class-conscious in modern British English.
Etymology
From the verb "breed" plus the suffix "-ing", covering both the literal act of reproduction and, by extension, upbringing.
Full origin of breeding →Frequently asked questions
What does “breeding” mean?
The word “breeding” means the controlled mating of animals or plants to produce or improve particular characteristics. In plain terms, either the practice of mating animals/plants for desired traits, or old-fashioned polished manners from a good upbringing.
How do you pronounce “breeding”?
“Breeding” is pronounced BREE-dihng (/ˈbɹiːdɪŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “breeding” in a sentence?
Here is “breeding” used in a sentence: “Selective breeding has changed dogs enormously over centuries.”
What part of speech is “breeding”?
“Breeding” is a noun.
Is “breeding” a common word?
“Breeding” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “breeding” have?
“Breeding” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the controlled mating of animals or plants to produce or improve particular characteristics.
What is the difference between breeding and reproduction?
Reproduction is the natural biological process by which organisms produce offspring. Breeding usually implies human control — the deliberate mating of animals or plants to produce or improve particular characteristics, as in livestock breeding or plant breeding.
What is selective breeding?
Selective breeding is the controlled mating of animals or plants so that desirable characteristics are passed on and strengthened over generations. It is how growers and farmers developed most modern crop varieties, livestock lines, and dog breeds.
Is it rude to say someone has no breeding?
Yes, it is generally taken as an insult. Saying someone "has no breeding" is an old-fashioned way of accusing them of poor manners and a low-class upbringing, and because it ties politeness to social class, it can sound snobbish as well as rude.
