breeder

noun

breed·​er ˈbrē-dər How to pronounce breeder (audio)
: one that breeds: such as
a
: an animal or plant kept for propagation
b
: one engaged in the breeding of a specified organism
c
: a nuclear reactor designed to produce more fissionable material than it uses as fuel

called also breeder reactor

Examples of breeder in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Originally bred as a fighting dog, the AKC says responsible breeders now produce sweet-natured, extremely loyal and family-oriented dogs, but advises that their fighting instinct still lies within, and the breed may not do well at dog parks or as part of a home with multiple male dogs. Rachael O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025 Most fisheries biologists would point to usual suspects like not enough eggs, but Waldman cites decent numbers of 10-to 20-pound fish which tend to be the breeders. Christine Peterson, Outdoor Life, 17 Sep. 2025 And residents in Southwest Miami-Dade say many loose dogs are being abandoned by irresponsible breeders. Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 8 Sep. 2025 One of the Zhdanov brothers’ business partners is a PhD plant geneticist and breeder. Don Tse, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for breeder

Word History

First Known Use

1531, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of breeder was in 1531

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Cite this Entry

“Breeder.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/breeder. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.

Medical Definition

breeder

noun
breed·​er
: one that breeds: as
a
: an animal or plant kept for propagation
b
: one engaged in the breeding of a specified organism

More from Merriam-Webster on breeder

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