hybrid
HEYE-brihd
Hybrid (noun) means the offspring produced by crossing two different species, breeds, or varieties. Example: “A liger is a hybrid of a lion and a tiger.”
noun
1
The offspring produced by crossing two different species, breeds, or varieties.
"A liger is a hybrid of a lion and a tiger."
"The gardener crossed two roses to create a hybrid with deep red petals."
"A mule is a hybrid of a horse and a donkey."
2
Anything made by combining two different things, especially so it gets the benefits of both.
"The sofa is a hybrid of a bed and a chair, folding flat at night."
"The new tablet is a hybrid between a laptop and a phone."
"They drove a hybrid that ran on both petrol and electricity."
adj
1
Made up of two different types or origins combined together.
"We drive a hybrid car that switches between a petrol engine and a battery."
"The festival offered a hybrid event, with talks held both in person and online."
"The company adopted a hybrid work model, mixing office days with remote days."
How to use hybrid
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomething (or someone) that combines two different types into one.
Common pairings
hybrid car
hybrid model
hybrid work
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Word forms
- Plural
- hybrids
- Comparative
- more hybrid
- Superlative
- most hybrid
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
A liger is a _____ of a lion and a tiger.
Etymology
From Latin hybrida, originally meaning the offspring of a domestic pig and a wild boar — a word for "mixed-breed" animal that later broadened to cover anything of mixed origin.
Synonyms
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Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “hybrid” mean?
The word “hybrid” means the offspring produced by crossing two different species, breeds, or varieties. In plain terms, something (or someone) that combines two different types into one.
How do you pronounce “hybrid”?
“Hybrid” is pronounced HEYE-brihd (/ˈhaɪ.bɹɪd/ in IPA).
How do you use “hybrid” in a sentence?
Here is “hybrid” used in a sentence: “A mule is a hybrid of a horse and a donkey.”
What is another word for “hybrid”?
Words with a similar meaning to “hybrid” include cross, cross-breed, melding, mixling and mongrel.
What part of speech is “hybrid”?
Depending on how it is used, “hybrid” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “hybrid” come from?
The word “hybrid” comes from Latin. From Latin hybrida, originally meaning the offspring of a domestic pig and a wild boar — a word for "mixed-breed" animal that later broadened to cover anything of mixed origin.
Is “hybrid” a common word?
“Hybrid” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “hybrid” have?
“Hybrid” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the offspring produced by crossing two different species, breeds, or varieties.
What is the difference between a hybrid and a crossbreed?
Crossbreed usually refers specifically to the offspring of two different breeds or varieties, especially of animals or plants, while hybrid is broader and can also mean anything made by combining two different things. All crossbreeds are hybrids, but not all hybrids are crossbreeds.
What is a hybrid car?
A hybrid car combines two power sources, typically a petrol or diesel engine and an electric motor, to gain the benefits of both. It is an everyday example of the broader sense of hybrid: something made by combining two different things.
Can hybrid animals reproduce?
Many hybrids, such as the mule (a cross between a horse and a donkey), are infertile and cannot reproduce, though some hybrids can. Fertility largely depends on how closely related the two parent species are.
Is hybrid used as an adjective or a noun?
Hybrid works as both: as a noun it names the crossed offspring or combination ('the plant is a hybrid'), and as a modifier it describes something combining two things ('a hybrid approach').
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