noun
Uncommon
pedigree
PEHD-ih-gree
Pedigree (noun) means a record of an animal's or person's ancestry, especially one showing distinguished breeding. Example: “The breeder showed us the puppy's pedigree going back four generations.”
noun
1
A record of an animal's or person's ancestry, especially one showing distinguished breeding.
"The breeder showed us the puppy's pedigree going back four generations."
2
A person's background or history of achievement, especially an impressive one.
"With her academic pedigree, she was the obvious choice for the role."
adj
1
Having documented ancestry; purebred.
"They only breed pedigree dogs at that kennel."
How to use pedigree
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA traceable line of ancestry or a strong track record — used for animals' breeding and, figuratively, for people's impressive backgrounds.
Common pairings
pedigree dog
academic pedigree
impressive pedigree
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Word forms
- Plural
- pedigrees
- Third person singular
- pedigrees
- Past tense
- pedigreed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The breeder showed us the puppy's _____ going back four generations.
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.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for pedigree
See all rhymes for 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.
