pedigree
12 synonyms and 0 antonyms for pedigree, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A record of an animal's or person's ancestry, especially one showing distinguished breeding.
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 pedigree
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old French pié de grue, "foot of a crane," apparently because old genealogy charts had branching lines that looked like a crane's foot.
Full origin of pedigree →Frequently asked questions
What does “pedigree” mean?
The word “pedigree” means a record of an animal's or person's ancestry, especially one showing distinguished breeding. In plain terms, a traceable line of ancestry or a strong track record — used for animals' breeding and, figuratively, for people's impressive backgrounds.
How do you pronounce “pedigree”?
“Pedigree” is pronounced PEHD-ih-gree (/ˈpɛd.ɪ.ɡɹi/ in IPA).
How do you use “pedigree” in a sentence?
Here is “pedigree” used in a sentence: “The breeder showed us the puppy's pedigree going back four generations.”
What part of speech is “pedigree”?
Depending on how it is used, “pedigree” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “pedigree” come from?
The word “pedigree” comes from Old French. From Old French pié de grue, "foot of a crane," apparently because old genealogy charts had branching lines that looked like a crane's foot.
Is “pedigree” a common word?
“Pedigree” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “pedigree” have?
“Pedigree” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a record of an animal's or person's ancestry, especially one showing distinguished breeding.