breeder

1 of 2

noun (1)

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

breeder tulip

2 of 2

noun (2)

variants or less commonly breeder
plural -s
: any of certain self-colored late-flowering tulips that resemble Darwin tulips but lack the rectangular flower base and are commonly somewhat more somber in coloring

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.
Noun
Bosnian trout breeders ‘looking to survive summer’ Veljko Budjen owns a trout farm near Trebinje in southeast Bosnia. — Marko Drobnjakovic, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2026 The animal must be legally obtained with proper documentation (such as a receipt from a breeder), and there are specific housing requirements. — Katie Wiseman, IndyStar, 28 Aug. 2026 Gus came from the same breeder as Griff II, known as George at home. — Lauren Paige Richeson, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026 Through rescuers, Athos made his way to Crawford’s friend Francisco Lopez, a professional breeder and longtime Ukraine supporter in America. — Laurie Kellman, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for breeder

Word History

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1529, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of breeder was in 1529

Rhymes for breeder

See All Rhymes for breeder

Browse Nearby Words

breed
breeder
Breede River yellowwood
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Breeder.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/breeder. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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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
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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