pedigree
- 01 C1 Advanced
n.the record of an animal's ancestors, showing that it is a pure breed.
n.the recorded ancestry or genealogical table of a domesticated animal, particularly to demonstrate purebred status.
Simple“The breeder provided a full pedigree for the puppy to prove its champion bloodline.”
In context“The horse's pedigree was impeccable, tracing its lineage back to several legendary Triple Crown winners.”
UsageOften used as a countable noun when referring to the physical document.
- 02 C1 Advanced
n.a person's family history or the long, successful background of an idea or company.
n.a person's ancestral history or the provenance and development of an institution or concept, usually implying high status.
Simple“The university has a long pedigree of producing world-class scientists.”
In context“Despite the firm's impressive pedigree in traditional finance, it struggled to adapt to the rapid shift toward digital currencies.”
UsageFrequently used metaphorically to describe institutions or professional reputations.
Synonyms - 03 C1 Advanced
adj.describing an animal that comes from a family of the same breed.
adj.having a documented line of ancestors of the same breed; purebred.
Simple“They only sell pedigree cats at this specific pet shop.”
In context“The competition is strictly limited to pedigree dogs that meet the specific physical standards of the kennel club.”
UsageIn American English, 'purebred' is more common as an adjective, while 'pedigree' is often used as a noun.
SynonymspurebredthoroughbredAntonymsmixed breed
“Between Baby Reindeer , Somewhere Boy and Misfits, Clerkenwell Films has developed an incredible pedigree when it comes to television.”
“Genetic analysis allowed the researchers to reconstruct family pedigrees covering as many as four generations.”
From Anglo-Norman pé de grue, a variant of Old French pié de gru (“foot of a crane”), from Latin pes (“foot”) + grus (“crane”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.