inbreeding

American  

[in-bree-ding] / ˈɪnˌbri dɪŋ /

noun

Biology.

1. 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.

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inbreeding Scientific  

/ ĭn′brē′dĭng /

1. 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.

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Etymology

Origin of inbreeding

First recorded in 1835–45; inbreed + -ing ¹

Example Sentences

Medieval goats displayed a broader range of genetic variation, while modern Old Irish Goats show clear signs of inbreeding.

From Science Daily • Feb. 26, 2026

This dispersal, as it's known, plays a role in avoiding inbreeding, spreading gene diversity and shaping social relationships.

From BBC • Aug. 5, 2025

In many species, inbreeding can reduce health and fitness.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 11, 2025

Local cats have begun to show signs of inbreeding from the lack of genetic diversity, including kinked tails.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 12, 2024

In 2005, members of the Native American Havasupai Tribe sued Arizona State University after scientists took tissue samples the tribe donated for diabetes research and used them without consent to study schizophrenia and inbreeding.

From "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot