Definition of "purebred" [purebred]

• Of or belonging to a recognized strain established by breeding individuals of unmixed lineage over many generations. (adjective)
• A purebred animal. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "Persians were over-represented in purebred cats and none were obese."
• "To say one chooses between a purebred from a breeder and an all-American mutt is just naive. —"
• "Meaning, please seek a rescue group if you want a particular breed, look in your local shelter for a surprise find, or, better yet, get over the "purebred" fetish and find out how stable, loyal and companionable the all-American mutt can be."