inbreeding

[ in-bree-ding ]

/ ˈɪnˌbri dɪŋ /

noun Biology.

the mating of closely related individuals, as cousins, sire-daughter, brother-sister, or self-fertilized plants, which tends to increase the number of individuals that are homozygous for a trait and therefore increases the appearance of recessive traits.

Nearby words

inbounds line, inbox, inbreathe, inbred, inbreed, inbreeding, inbreeding depression, inbuilt, inby, inc., inca

Origin of inbreeding

First recorded in 1835–45; inbreed + -ing¹

Definition for inbreeding (2 of 2)

inbreed

[ in-breed, in-breed ]

/ ˈɪnˌbrid, ɪnˈbrid /

verb (used with object), in·bred, in·breed·ing.

to breed (individuals of a closely related group) repeatedly.

to breed within; engender.

verb (used without object), in·bred, in·breed·ing.

to engage in or undergo inbreeding.

Origin of inbreed

First recorded in 1590–1600; in-¹ + breed

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for inbreeding

The family also believed that inbreeding was central to both preserving the family fortune and ensuring “purity of blood.”
Foxcatcher’s Real-Life Psycho Killer|Marlow Stern|November 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Their excuse for the killing the giraffe was that they were worried about inbreeding.
At the Copenhagen Zoo, Humans Can Be Animals|Kevin Bleyer|March 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Break out the banjos and inbreeding jokes, folks, the Appalachian lounge suit is back.
Enough with the Overalls!|Sean Macaulay|April 7, 2010|DAILY BEAST
As we have never had a case of deafness in our kennels before or since, we attribute this solely to inbreeding.
The Boston Terrier and All About It|Edward Axtell

Inbreeding maintains the excellence of a breed at the expense of its vigor.
Folkways|William Graham Sumner
Inbreeding, caponizing, etc., What to do at different seasons.
Apple Growing|M. C. Burritt
It is very probable, but not absolutely certain, that inbreeding is harmful.
Folkways|William Graham Sumner
The notion of harm in inbreeding has spread all over the earth.
Folkways|William Graham Sumner

British Dictionary definitions for inbreeding

inbreed

/ (ˈɪnˈbriːd) /

verb -breeds, -breeding or -bred

to breed from unions between closely related individuals, esp over several generations

(tr) to develop within; engender

Derived Formsinbreeding, noun, adjective

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

Medicine definitions for inbreeding

inbreeding

[ ĭn′brē′dĭng ]

n.

homogamy

The continued breeding of closely related individuals so as to preserve desirable traits in a stock.

Science definitions for inbreeding

inbreeding

[ ĭn′brē′dĭng ]

The breeding or mating of related individuals within an isolated or closed group of organisms or people. Inbreeding can result in inbreeding depression. However, in agriculture and animal husbandry, the continued breeding of closely related individuals can help to preserve desirable traits in a stock.