Inbreedings

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The practice of interbreeding within a close-knit group to maintain specific traits or bloodlines
2. the occurrence of genetic mixing among closely related individuals resulting in a limited gene pool
3. the process by which individuals from the same lineage breed, potentially leading to health problems or reduced fertility

Etymology: "Inbreedings" is simply the plural of "inbreeding", a noun for breeding within close relatives. The plural is the form you would use when discussing several separate instances or cases of such breeding, such as in studies of different populations or lineages. The base word is a compound of "in" and "breeding", the latter being the noun from "breed". Put together, the sense is literal: breeding that happens inside a closed group rather than with outsiders. The plural form follows the normal English pattern of adding "-s" to a countable noun.