Illustration of thoroughbred
- Thoroughbred
thor·ough·bred
ˈthər-ə-ˌbred 
ˈthə-rə-
1
: bred from the best blood through a long line : purebred
thoroughbred dogs
2
a
capitalized
: of, relating to, or being a Thoroughbred horse
b
: having characteristics resembling those of a Thoroughbred
3
: thoroughly trained or skilled
a thoroughbred soldier
1
: a purebred or pedigreed animal
2
capitalized
: any of an English breed of light speedy horses kept chiefly for racing that originated from crosses between English mares of uncertain ancestry and Arabian stallions
3
: a thoroughly educated or skilled person
Examples of thoroughbred in a Sentence
Adjective
a thoroughbred dog
Recent Examples on the Web
The Know, Denver Post, 18 May 2025
Lexington, a thoroughbred stallion of the 1850s, was the greatest racer ever.
—The Know, Denver Post, 18 May 2025
Ben Church, CNN Money, 17 May 2025
Nine of the best 3-year-old thoroughbreds will compete for the Woodlawn Vase at Pimlico Race Course.
—Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for thoroughbred
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Adjective
Brooks uses the horse’s history to illuminate the Black grooms and trainers who laid the track for thoroughbred racing in America.
—The Know, Denver Post, 18 May 2025
Lexington, a thoroughbred stallion of the 1850s, was the greatest racer ever.
—The Know, Denver Post, 18 May 2025
Noun
The three-year-old thoroughbred finished ahead of 18 other horses on a muddy track at Churchill Downs Racetrack on May 3 but will not be looking to repeat the feat at the Pimlico Race Course on Saturday.
—Ben Church, CNN Money, 17 May 2025
Nine of the best 3-year-old thoroughbreds will compete for the Woodlawn Vase at Pimlico Race Course.
—Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for thoroughbred
Cite this Entry
“Thoroughbred.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thoroughbred. Accessed 7 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
thoroughbred
1 of 2 adjective
thor·ough·bred
ˈthər-ə-ˌbred
ˈthə-rə-
1
: bred from the best stock through a long line : purebred
thoroughbred dogs
2
capitalized
: of, relating to, or being a Thoroughbred horse
thoroughbred
2 of 2 noun1
: a purebred or pedigreed animal
2
capitalized
: any of an English breed of light speedy horses kept chiefly for racing
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