What does crossbreed mean?
A crossbreed is an animal or plant that results from breeding two distinct breeds, varieties, or occasionally species, combining characteristics of both parents. The word also functions as a verb, meaning to mate individuals of different breeds in order to produce such offspring. In everyday speech, crossbreed is most familiar from dogs — breeds like the labradoodle are deliberate crosses between established pedigrees — but it is equally important in agriculture, where farmers crossbreed livestock and crops to blend hardiness, productivity, and disease resistance. The term is neutral in register and connotation: unlike mongrel, which can sound dismissive when applied to animals of uncertain parentage, crossbreed suggests purposeful selection and is widely used by breeders, scientists, and pet owners alike. Its close relative hybrid describes crossings between species rather than within one, making the distinction useful in precise contexts.
An animal or plant produced by breeding two different breeds, varieties, or species.
"That puppy is a crossbreed of a beagle and a border terrier."
Often used attributively or followed by 'of' or 'between' naming the parent breeds.
To breed together individuals of different breeds or varieties to produce offspring with combined traits.
"Breeders crossbred the two strains to improve resistance to drought."
Standard plural; the verb form crossbred covers past tense and past participle.
"Several crossbreeds were exhibited at the agricultural show."
The labradoodle began as a deliberate crossbreed in the 1980s — and accidentally launched a global designer-dog craze.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of crossbreed
The word crossbreed combines 'cross', from Old Norse 'kross', which entered English via Old Irish 'cros' and ultimately Latin 'crux', with 'breed', from Old English 'brēdan', meaning to bring forth or nourish young. The compound arose in English in the nineteenth century as selective animal breeding became more systematic. It shares its root with related terms such as crossbreeding and cross-fertilisation, all built on the same 'cross' element denoting mixture or combination.
How crossbreed is actually used
Crossbreed is neutral in tone, unlike mongrel, which can carry negative connotations. In agriculture and animal husbandry it often implies intentional crossing to combine desirable traits. As a verb it is regular (crossbred, crossbreeding).
Easily confused with crossbreed
A hybrid is typically the offspring of two different species (or a blend of unlike things generally), while a crossbreed usually results from crossing different breeds or varieties within the same species.
A mongrel is an animal of mixed ancestry with no identifiable pedigree, often used pejoratively for dogs, whereas crossbreed is neutral and often refers to deliberate crossings.