Crossbreed Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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crossbreed

[ˈkrɒsˌbriːd ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Noun}

animal breeding

A crossbreed is an animal that has parents of two different breeds or species.

Synonyms

hybrid, mixed breed, mongrel.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
crossbreed	Typically used to describe animals or plants that are the result of combining two different breeds, species, or varieties. It is often used in scientific or agricultural contexts. The farm specializes in producing crossbreed chickens that are more resistant to disease
hybrid	Commonly used in both biological and technological contexts to describe something made by combining two different elements. Can relate to animals, plants, and even cars. The new car model is a hybrid, combining an electric motor with a gasoline engine
mixed breed	Used mainly to describe domestic animals, especially pets like dogs and cats, that don't belong to one specific breed. This term is often used by pet owners and animal shelters. They adopted a mixed breed dog from the animal shelter
mongrel	Generally used to refer to dogs of no definable breed. It can have a negative connotation, implying that the dog is inferior or less desirable. The children found a mongrel puppy on the street and decided to bring it home

Examples of usage

The puppy was a crossbreed of a Labrador and a Poodle.
Crossbreeds are often healthier than purebred animals.
She adopted a crossbreed cat from the shelter.

^{Context #2 | Verb}

animal breeding

To crossbreed means to mate animals of different breeds or species to produce offspring.

Synonyms

cross-mate, hybridize, interbreed.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
crossbreed	Typically used when referring to the process of breeding two different breeds of the same species to produce a new variety. Farmers often crossbreed chickens to improve egg production
hybridize	Commonly used in scientific and botanical contexts to describe the process of creating hybrids. It can refer to plants or animals, but often has a more formal or technical tone. Scientists hybridize two plant species to create a more resilient crop
interbreed	Used to describe the mating between individuals of different breeds or species, and can occasionally have a negative connotation depending on the context, especially when discussing wildlife or genetic integrity. Certain wildlife populations are at risk if they interbreed with non-native species
cross-mate	Used specifically to describe the pairing of two different breeds or varieties for mating. This is usually a scientific or technical term. The researchers decided to cross-mate the two strains to observe the inheritance patterns

Examples of usage

Farmers crossbreed different strains of crops to increase yield.
The breeder decided to crossbreed the two horse breeds for a stronger offspring.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Origin of 'crossbreed'

The term 'crossbreed' originated in the early 19th century, combining 'cross' and 'breed' to refer to animals of mixed lineage. Crossbreeding has been practiced for centuries to introduce new traits or enhance genetic diversity in animals. The intentional mating of different breeds or species has led to the development of hybrid vigor in many instances, producing healthier and more resilient offspring.