Pedigree

mediumPositive tone

PED-ih-gree

noun

Definition

The recorded ancestry or lineage of an animal or person; distinguished ancestry

Memory hook

PEDI-GREE: think of a family tree (a 'crane's foot' pattern) showing distinguished ancestry branching out.

See more GRE words with mnemonics.

Examples

The horse had an impeccable pedigree with multiple winning ancestors.
His academic pedigree included degrees from top universities.

Test yourself

Fill in the blank with the right word:

The horse had an impeccable ______ with multiple winning ancestors.
Show answer

pedigree

Synonyms

lineageancestrygenealogybloodline

Antonyms

obscurityanonymityignominycommonness

Categories

View all Ancestry words

GRE Tip

Pedigree is a medium-difficulty GRE word. On the GRE, you might see it paired with synonyms like "lineage" or "ancestry" in Sentence Equivalence questions. Look for contrast clues (however, despite, although) that signal the opposite meaning. Words like "obscurity".

Read: How to Memorize GRE Words That Actually Stick

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