outbreeding

O1U1T1B3R1E1E1D2I1N1G2

noun

The breeding of unrelated (or only distantly related) individuals.

“Outbreeding is a positive thing, because of the wider gene pool.”

OriginEnglish breeding ← Middle English ut- ← Old English ūt- →
Scrabble 15
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Meanings

nounoutbreeding (countable and uncountable, plural outbreedings)

plural outbreedings

  1. countableuncountableThe breeding of unrelated (or only distantly related) individuals.

    Outbreeding is a positive thing, because of the wider gene pool.

  2. countableuncountableThe mating of people from different groups (especially as a result of social proscription).

    Outbreeding hinders earnest studies of archaeogenetics, making it thorny to know precisely about ancient populations, migrations and linguistic groups.

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*úd
  2. Proto-Germanic*ūt
  3. Proto-Germanic*ūt-
  4. Old Englishūt-
  5. Middle Englishut-
  6. Englishout-
  7. Englishbreeding
  8. Englishoutbreeding

From out- + breeding.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

outbreeding. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/outbreeding

MLA

“outbreeding.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/outbreeding. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “outbreeding,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/outbreeding.

Source: outbreeding on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.