inbreeding
noun
in·breed·ing
ˈin-ˈbrē-diŋ 
1
: the interbreeding of closely related individuals especially to preserve and fix desirable characters of and to eliminate unfavorable characters from a stock
2
: confinement to a narrow range or a local or limited field of choice
Examples of inbreeding in a Sentence
genetic defects caused by inbreeding
Recent Examples on the Web
The genetics of the Angel Island coyotes, for instance, show a lot of inbreeding, and there’s always a risk that, due to either a lack of genetic diversity or a random event, the small population could go extinct.
—
Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 20 Jan. 2026
The three genomes allowed the researchers to examine how the species’ genetic diversity, such as levels of inbreeding and the number of harmful mutations, changed through time during the last ice age.
—Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 15 Jan. 2026
With the genomic data of every living bird in the species, conservationists could see where their genetic diversity was greatest; that's important for avoiding issues that arise with inbreeding, like low fertility and weak immune systems.
—Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 11 Nov. 2025
This suggests that snow leopards have purged bad mutations within their population periodically over time, which eliminated potential disadvantageous impacts from historic inbreeding and allowed populations to remain healthy despite small numbers, according to the paper.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 8 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inbreeding
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Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 20 Jan. 2026
The three genomes allowed the researchers to examine how the species’ genetic diversity, such as levels of inbreeding and the number of harmful mutations, changed through time during the last ice age.
—Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 15 Jan. 2026
With the genomic data of every living bird in the species, conservationists could see where their genetic diversity was greatest; that's important for avoiding issues that arise with inbreeding, like low fertility and weak immune systems.
—Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 11 Nov. 2025
This suggests that snow leopards have purged bad mutations within their population periodically over time, which eliminated potential disadvantageous impacts from historic inbreeding and allowed populations to remain healthy despite small numbers, according to the paper.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 8 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inbreeding
Cite this Entry
“Inbreeding.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inbreeding. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
inbreeding
noun
in·breed·ing
ˈin-ˈbrēd-iŋ
: the interbreeding of closely related individuals especially to preserve and fix desirable characters of and to eliminate unfavorable characters from a stock compare linebreeding, outbreeding
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