of pure or unmixed breed, stock, or lineage, as a horse or other animal; bred from the purest and best blood.
(sometimes initial capital letter) of or relating to the Thoroughbred breed of horses.
(of a person) having good breeding or education.
(initial capital letter) one of a breed of horses, to which all racehorses belong, originally developed in England by crossing Arabian stallions with European mares.
a thoroughbred animal.
a well-bred or well-educated person.
a pedigree animal; purebred
a person regarded as being of good breeding
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
It is banned in thoroughbred racing and competitors in other disciplines are divided, with some saying it creates unrealistic expectations and stifles advances in breeding.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 6, 2026
“Bringing together two prestigious racing brands, the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, is a significant step toward the successful longevity and growth of the American Triple Crown of thoroughbred racing,” Stronach said.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 21, 2026
The franchise took its first step toward that when it agreed to spend nearly $200 million for a property that used to host Arlington Park, a thoroughbred racetrack in Chicago’s northwest suburbs.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026
Dale Romans, a thoroughbred racehorse trainer, has also made waves in the race since entering the primary in November, though no polling has been conducted that includes Romans.
From Salon • Dec. 19, 2025
A thoroughbred of the streets, Jemmy acted on instinct.
From "The Whipping Boy" by Sid Fleischman
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
