underbred

C2 Topic:Describing Qualities

Also spelled under-bred

US /ˌʌndɚˈbɹɛd/ UK /ˌʌndəˈbrɛd/ See IPA manual

Freq #557902

Meanings

1

adj
lacking refinement, good manners, or the upbringing expected in polite society

His underbred jokes embarrassed the other guests at dinner.
2

adj
of an animal: not purebred or regarded as being of inferior stock

The breeder valued sound health more than whether a horse was underbred.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · lacking refinement, good... ill-breduncouth unrefined vulgar

2 adj · of an animal: not purebred... mixed-breednon-pedigree

Opposites

well-bredrefined thoroughbred

Word family

Derived forms underbreeding

Related forms breedingill-bredthoroughbred pedigree

Etymology

Formed from under- + bred, the past participle of breed. The prefix marks deficient degree: an underbred animal was judged below a desired pedigree, while an underbred person was thought deficient in upbringing, manners, or social refinement.

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# underbred

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /ˌʌndɚˈbɹɛd/
**IPA (UK):** /ˌʌndəˈbrɛd/
**Frequency rank:** 557902

## Meanings
1. lacking refinement, good manners, or the upbringing expected in polite society
2. of an animal: not purebred or regarded as being of inferior stock

## Examples
- His underbred jokes embarrassed the other guests at dinner.
- The breeder valued sound health more than whether a horse was underbred.

## Synonyms
- ill-bred
- uncouth
- unrefined
- vulgar
- mixed-breed

## Antonyms
- well-bred
- refined
- thoroughbred

## Derived Forms
- underbreeding

## Related Forms
- breeding
- ill-bred
- thoroughbred
- pedigree

## Etymology
Formed from under- + bred, the past participle of breed. The prefix marks deficient degree: an underbred animal was judged below a desired pedigree, while an underbred person was thought deficient in upbringing, manners, or social refinement.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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