What does hatchery mean?
A hatchery is a place where eggs are hatched and young animals are raised, most commonly a facility that produces fish or shellfish for commercial aquaculture. In this literal sense, a hatchery provides controlled conditions for reproduction and early development before animals are transferred to farms, rivers, or the sea. The word can also be used figuratively for a place where new ideas, creative projects, or organizations emerge and develop. It is usually more specific than “nursery” or “breeding ground,” because it often suggests a technical or commercial process rather than general care and upbringing. Hatchery is standard in both British and American English, with the plural “hatcheries.”
nounA place where eggs are hatched, especially in the commercial production of fish, shellfish, or other aquatic animals. The term can also refer more broadly to a facility where young animals are bred and raised.
- A place or facility where eggs are hatched, particularly fish, shellfish, and other aquatic organisms.
- A place where animals are bred and raised from the egg or larval stage, especially in commercial aquaculture.
- A figurative place in which new ideas, organizations, or creative projects are developed.
"The salmon hatchery releases millions of young fish into the river each spring."
"The fish hatchery monitors temperature and oxygen levels to keep the developing eggs healthy."
"The magazine became a hatchery for new political ideas during the 1990s."
The standard plural is formed by adding -ies to the singular noun.
"Several hatcheries along the coast raise salmon for the commercial market."
A hatchery is a modern factory built around one of nature's oldest processes: turning an egg into a new life.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does hatchery come from?
“Hatchery” was formed in English by combining “hatch,” in the sense of emerging from an egg or causing an egg to open, with the suffix “-ery,” which forms nouns indicating a place, institution, or activity. The word dates from the early modern period, when organized hatching and breeding were becoming increasingly important in agriculture and fisheries. Its English relatives include “hatch” and “hatching,” while “hatchback” belongs to a later compound built on the same word.
Related word forms
How hatchery is actually used
The word is most commonly used in aquaculture and animal husbandry. Its figurative sense is less frequent and usually suggests the development of ideas, talent, or creative work. In British and American English, it is normally a count noun and takes a plural in -ies.