hybrid

American  

[hahy-brid] / ˈhaɪ brɪd /

noun

• hybrids
  plural

1. the offspring of two animals or plants of different breeds, varieties, species, or genera, especially as produced through human manipulation for specific genetic characteristics.

2. a person or group of persons produced by the interaction or crossbreeding of two unlike cultures, traditions, etc.

3. anything derived from heterogeneous sources, or composed of elements of different or incongruous kinds.

   a hybrid of the academic and business worlds.

4. a word composed of elements originally drawn from different languages, as television, whose components come from Greek and Latin.

5. 1. something that is powered by more than one source of power.

      a wind-solar hybrid to generate electricity.

   2. a car or other vehicle that combines an internal-combustion engine with one or more electric motors powered by a battery.

      She says she's proud to be driving a hybrid.

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adjective

1. bred from two distinct breeds, varieties, species, or genera.

   Antonyms:

   thoroughbred, purebred

2. composite; formed or composed of heterogeneous elements.

3. composed of elements originally drawn from different languages, as a word.

4. powered by more than one source of power.

   It is hoped that hybrid buses will reduce urban air pollution.

hybrid British  

/ ˈhaɪbrɪd /

noun

1. an animal or plant resulting from a cross between genetically unlike individuals. Hybrids between different species are usually sterile

2. anything of mixed ancestry

3. a vehicle that is powered by an internal-combustion engine and another source of power such as a battery

4. a word, part of which is derived from one language and part from another, such as monolingual, which has a prefix of Greek origin and a root of Latin origin

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adjective

1. (of a vehicle) powered by more than one source

2. denoting or being a hybrid; of mixed origin

3. physics (of an electromagnetic wave) having components of both electric and magnetic field vectors in the direction of propagation

4. electronics

   1. (of a circuit) consisting of transistors and valves

   2. (of an integrated circuit) consisting of one or more fully integrated circuits and other components, attached to a ceramic substrate Compare monolithic

hybrid Scientific  

/ hī′brĭd /

1. An organism that is the offspring of two parents that differ in one or more inheritable characteristics, especially the offspring of two different varieties of the same species or the offspring of two parents belonging to different species. In agriculture and animal husbandry, hybrids of different varieties and species are bred in order to combine the favorable characteristics of the parents. Hybrids often display hybrid vigor. The mule, which is the offspring of a male donkey and a female horse, is an example of a hybrid. It is strong for its size and has better endurance and a longer useful lifespan than its parents. However, mules are sterile, as are many animals that are hybrids between two species.

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Synonym Usage

Hybrid, mongrel refer to animals or plants of mixed origin. Hybrid is the scientific term: hybrid corn; a hybrid variety of sheep. Mongrel, used originally of dogs to denote the offspring of crossings of different breeds, is now extended to other animals and to plants; it is usually deprecatory, as denoting mixed, nondescript, or degenerate breed or character: a mongrel pup.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• hybridism
  noun
• hybridity
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• hybrids
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of hybrid

First recorded in 1595–1605, hybrid is from the Latin word hybrida, hibrida “a crossbred animal”

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Explanation

A hybrid is a mixture of two different things, resulting in something that has a little bit of both — like the rare zedonk, a hybrid of a donkey and a zebra. The word hybrid gets thrown around often these days — ever heard of hybrid cars that run on both electricity and fuel? Or hybrid films that are half animation, half live action? But hybrid is really most at home in the realm of genetics and crossbreeding. It actually comes to us from the Latin hybrida, meaning the offspring of two dissimilar animals, specifically a tame sow and a wild boar.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

hybrid hybrids

Silver can be seen as hybrid leading indicator because of its dual role as a monetary precious metal and an industrial commodity.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 17, 2026

The case highlights a paradox: while Europe's armies are bolstering their protection against espionage and hybrid threats, the vehicles they use can collect sensitive information.

From Barron's ● Oct. 17, 2026

Google-backed Promise is another Culver City-adjacent AI studio that’s a proponent of hybrid productions, where human actors work with AI specialists.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 17, 2026

The concession on hybrid vehicles might ease some pressure on China in the short term.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 2026

The catch is that hybrid corn does not “come true.”

From "The Omnivore's Dilemma" by Michael Pollan

Sales of new-energy vehicles, which comprise electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids, as well as exports have become the major themes in China’s auto market.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 12, 2026

With global demand for electric vehicles slowing, Leiters said Porsche would continue to invest in internal combustion engines and plug-in hybrids.

From Barron's ● Oct. 7, 2026

Keating said Detroit automakers’ are missing out on newly popular segments—namely hybrids and affordable models—where their Asian rivals with more varied offerings don’t have to wait for new arrivals to meet demand.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 29, 2026

Toyota and Chinese automakers are seeing intense demand while other companies rush to add more hybrids to their lineups.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 27, 2026

While de Vries was still knee-deep in the study of plant hybrids in the spring of 1900, a friend sent him a copy of an old paper drudged up from the friend’s library.

From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee

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Related Words

• amalgam
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