half-breed

[ haf-breed, hahf- ]

noun
  1. a contemptuous term used to refer to the offspring of parents of different racial origin, especially the offspring of an American Indian and a white person of European descent.

adjective
  1. of or relating to such offspring.

Origin of half-breed

1
An Americanism dating back to 1750–60

Words Nearby half-breed

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use half-breed in a sentence

  • To be sure, he charged them off heavily, so there was little cash left from the half-breed's bootlegging operations.

    Mystery Ranch | Arthur Chapman
  • Hastily securing his horse the half-breed skirted the ranch and located the girl's trail on the prairie.

    Mystery Ranch | Arthur Chapman

British Dictionary definitions for half-breed

half-breed

noun
  1. offensive a person whose parents are of different races, esp the offspring of a White person and an American Indian

adjectivealso: half-bred
  1. of, relating to, or designating offspring of people or animals of different races or breeds

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012