If a dog, cat, or other animal has a pedigree, its ancestors are known and recorded. An animal is considered to have a good pedigree when all its known ancestors areof the same type.
60 per cent of dogs and ten per cent of cats have pedigrees.
2. adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
A pedigree animal is descended from animals which have all been of a particular type, and is therefore consideredto be of good quality.
...a pedigree dog.
...pedigree horses.
3. countable noun [oft poss NOUN]
Someone's pedigree is their background or their ancestors.
Hammer's business pedigree almost guaranteed him the acquaintance of U.S. presidents.
She had an impeccable aristocratic pedigree.
More Synonyms of pedigree
pedigree in British English
(ˈpɛdɪˌɡriː)
noun
1.
a.
the line of descent of a purebred animal
b.
(as modifier)
a pedigree bull
2.
a document recording this
3.
a genealogical table, esp one indicating pure ancestry
4.
derivation or background
the pedigree of an idea
Derived forms
pedigreed (ˈpediˌgreed)
adjective
Word origin
C15: from Old French pie de grue crane's foot, alluding to the spreading lines used in a genealogical chart
pedigree in American English
(ˈpɛdɪˌgri)
noun
1.
a list of ancestors; record of ancestry; family tree
2.
descent; lineage; ancestry
3.
a recorded or known line of descent, esp. of a purebred animal
Derived forms
pedigreed (ˈpediˌgreed)
adjective
Word origin
ME pedegru, pe de gre < MFr pié de grue, lit., crane's foot < L pes, foot + grus, a crane: from the lines in the genealogical tree
Examples of 'pedigree' in a sentence
pedigree
His football pedigree is good enough for him to deserve an opportunity like this.
The Sun (2016)
The stealing of exotic breeds of chicken comes amid a wider rise in rustling, particularly pedigree animals.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Coca may have an impeccable design pedigree, but he's not divorced from reality.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Which isn't remotely to say that all pedigree dogs have issues, but speak to your breeder human company and strongly dislike being left on their own.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
To handle such a garment of great royal pedigree is exciting.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The double has a good literary pedigree.
The Times Literary Supplement (2011)
Pedigree animals may incur big bills because of hereditary illnesses.
The Sun (2007)
The trick of lowering expectations has great historical pedigree.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Such sentiments have a pretty good pedigree.
Carpenter, Anne & Johnson, Geoffrey Why am I Afraid to Grieve (1994)
In the past five years she has helped the owners of hundreds of pedigree animals.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
But she is a fantastic looking filly with a great pedigree.
The Sun (2015)
But the car has a good pedigree.
The Sun (2006)
We should go back to having pedigree dogs that are fit and bred to do what the original breeders intended.
The Sun (2009)
One of the issues in the canine world now is that too few pedigree dogs are bred for their working abilities.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The site has an impeccable pedigree.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Artists are not like pedigree dogs.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
This is something to look into before buying any pedigree animal because medical and insurance costs can be higher than you expect.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
This is a relatively new brand, but it has an impeccable pedigree.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Northampton have a good pedigree but Ulster could thwart their ambition.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
There are pictures of uniformed servants, pedigree dogs and an impressive art collection.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
But his pedigree is impeccable, which says a lot about the world of modelling today.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Real may be rich in European pedigree and have one of the most expensively assembled squads on the planet.
The Sun (2014)
Yet the former skipper's quality and pedigree are there for all to see and he will relish the big stage.
The Sun (2016)
He had great pedigree and was so gentle I could put my arms around him.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
They open against a Biarritz team long on European pedigree and short on recent success.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
But their current line-up does not live up to their recent European pedigree.
The Sun (2011)
This won't be easy against a side who topped their pool in the preliminary stages and boast a proven European pedigree.
The Sun (2006)
In other languages
pedigree
British English: pedigree /ˈpɛdɪˌɡriː/ ADJECTIVE
A pedigree animal is descended from animals which have all been of a particular breed, and is therefore considered to be of good quality.
a pedigree dog
American English: pedigree
Arabic: أصْلٌ
Brazilian Portuguese: de raça
Chinese: 纯种的
Croatian: rasan
Czech: čistokrevný
Danish: stamtavle
Dutch: raszuiver
European Spanish: con pedigrí
Finnish: jalorotuinen
French: pedigree
German: reinrassig
Greek: εκλεκτής ράτσας
Italian: di razza pura
Japanese: 血統の明らかな
Korean: 혈통의
Norwegian: rase-
Polish: z rodowodem
European Portuguese: de raça
Romanian: pedigriu
Russian: породистый
Latin American Spanish: con pedigrí
Swedish: stamtavla
Thai: พันธุ์แท้
Turkish: cins
Ukrainian: породистий
Vietnamese: có nòi
British English: pedigree NOUN
If a dog, cat, or other animal has a pedigree, its ancestors are known and recorded.
60 per cent of dogs and ten per cent of cats have pedigrees.