# hybrid

/ˈhaɪbɹəd/ (US) · /hˈaɪbɹɪd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/hybrid
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. biological mix

noun · CEFR B2 · Technical

a plant or animal whose parents are from two different species or varieties.

For teachers: the offspring of two plants or animals of different species or varieties, such as a mule.

- The mule is a well-known hybrid of a horse and a donkey.
- Botanists developed this specific hybrid to ensure the crop could withstand both extreme drought and local soil parasites.

Usage: Often followed by the preposition 'of'.

### 2. a combination of things

noun · CEFR B2

something that is made by combining two different elements or styles.

For teachers: a thing made by combining two different elements, often to leverage the advantages of both.

- The new music style is a hybrid of jazz and traditional folk.
- The building's architecture is a curious hybrid, blending brutalist concrete structures with delicate glass facades typical of the modern era.

### 3. using two power sources

adjective · CEFR B1

using two different types of power, especially a car that uses both petrol and electricity.

For teachers: relating to a vehicle that utilizes two or more distinct power sources, typically an internal combustion engine and an electric motor.

- She decided to buy a hybrid car to save money on fuel and reduce her carbon footprint.
- The city council replaced the entire bus fleet with hybrid models to meet the new urban air quality standards.

### 4. mixed work or learning

adjective · CEFR B2

a way of working or studying that combines being in a building with working from home.

For teachers: denoting a model of professional or educational engagement that integrates both in-person and remote participation.

- Many companies now offer hybrid working, so staff only come to the office twice a week.
- The university adopted a hybrid learning approach, delivering core lectures online while maintaining small, face-to-face seminars for practical discussion.

## Examples

- This car is a hybrid that runs on both petrol and electricity.
- The new office policy is a hybrid of remote work and traditional in-person attendance.
- Biologists discovered that the local population was actually a fertile hybrid, possessing genetic markers from both the coastal and mountain varieties of the wildflower.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.