domestication

American  

[duh-mes-ti-key-shuhn] / dəˌmɛs tɪˈkeɪ ʃən /

noun

1. the act or process of taming an animal for human use or companionship.

   Shortly after their domestication as companions, dogs were put to use as weapons of war.

2. the act or process of adapting a plant to cultivation or converting it to household use.

   The domestication of modern wheat from wild grasses occurred in the Fertile Crescent and fueled the development of Indo-European culture.

3. the act or process of making someone accustomed to household life or affairs.

   When my friend and former business partner not only got married but became pregnant, I saw it as yet another step in her domestication.

4. the act or process of making a strange or challenging person or thing more familiar and acceptable.

   The author resists domestication of Nietzsche's philosophy, restoring the shock of his style and thought and interpreting him as a revolutionary philosopher.

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Etymology

Origin of domestication

First recorded in 1645–55; from Latin domesticāt-, stem of domesticāre “to dwell in a house” ( see domesticate ( def. )) + -ion ( def. )

Explanation

When you tame an animal and train it to be a pet or work on a farm, that's domestication. The domestication of dogs began thousands of years ago, which is probably why they're such great companions today. After the successful domestication of dogs, humans went on to domesticate many other animals, from horses and donkeys to cows and chickens. The term also applies to the process of breeding and growing plants for specific uses, mainly as food sources. Domestication comes from the Medieval Latin domesticare, which means "to tame" and "to dwell in a house." Despite the domestication of your donkey, she still probably shouldn't live in your house.

Example Sentences

The hunters in Iran’s Zagros mountains who protected and managed wild ibexes, for example, had no idea that their actions would lead to the domestication of the goat.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 1, 2026

But importantly, domestication is not a fixed point in evolution — it’s an ongoing process.

From Salon • Apr. 23, 2026

"If we can find out where and when the first domestication happened, we will also know which human group was involved, the archaeological and ecological circumstances that first made this happen?"

From BBC • Mar. 25, 2026

An expansive exhibition focuses on the Japanese warriors—from their rise as masters of warfare to their domestication as part of the civil service and landed gentry—as well as their long cultural afterlife.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 8, 2026

The domestication of fire was a sign of things to come.

From "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind" by Yuval Noah Harari

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