Bread vs. Bred – Homophones, Difference & Definition

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Candace Osmond

Candace Osmond studied Advanced Writing & Editing Essentials at MHC. She’s been an International and USA TODAY Bestselling Author for over a decade. And she’s worked as an Editor for several mid-sized publications. Candace has a keen eye for content editing and a high degree of expertise in Fiction.

One thing I know for sure is that homophones are so tricky to navigate when it comes to the English language. A pair of homophones that always causes confusion is “bred” and “bread.” Yes, they sound identical, but their definitions couldn’t be more different. So, I’ll explain the simple meanings of each word and their homophone status, share some synonyms for “bred,” and show you how to use both words in a sentence.

Bred vs. Bread

Bread vs. Bred Homophones Difference Definition

Although “bred” and “bread” have the same pronunciation, one is a noun for a baked good, and the other is a past tense verb form for breeding living things. The past tense of breed is bred, meaning to reproduce or raise animals, and it’s also the past participle. Bread is a staple food we all have in our homes, made from flour and water and baked in an oven.

Bred Meaning Explained

You would mostly use the word “bred” in the context of animal husbandry. It’s the process of raising and caring for different animals so they produce babies with more desirable traits. Like how a farmer can selectively breed certain cows to produce a stronger, more resilient herd. Sort of like survival of the fittest but controlled by humans.

How Do You Spell Bred?

If you’re talking about breeding animals, then it’s b-r-e-d. If you want to write about delicious baked goods, it’s b-r-e-a-d.

Bred Homophones

As I mentioned earlier, “bred” is the homophone of “bread” and vice versa.

What Are the Synonyms of Bred?

  • Raised
  • Nurtured
  • Reared
  • Propagated

You can use these words with “bred” when you’re talking about animal husbandry, aka breeding animals.

How to Use Bread and Bred in One Sentence

My grandfather bred the cows in the morning, while my grandmother baked fresh bread in the afternoon.

Bread vs. Bred Homophones Difference Definition 1

Sentence Examples With the Word Bred

  • We bought these two champion horses specifically to be bred for good stock.
  • Our dog was bred from a cross between a black Labrador and a Staffordshire to create a Lab-Staff mix.
  • My grandfather once bred pigs for pets.
  • His Huskies are bred from real wolves.
  • I’ve bred horses before, so breeding cows should be easy enough for me to learn.

However, if heifers are not able to be bred early due to mud, breeding at the same time as the mature cows will work but rebreeding as a 2 year old may be more challenging. (South Dakota State)

Sentence Examples Using the Word Bread

  • In our house, we eat fresh bread every day.
  • Growing up, my grandmother would bake bread every Sunday and bake a special little loaf of bread just for me.
  • I love all types of bread: white, whole grain, focaccia, sourdough, bread rolls, etc.
  • I’m practicing making my own homemade baked bread at home, so I don’t have to buy it at the store. 
  • My daughter refuses to eat multi-grain bread and only eats white or whole wheat.
  • Don’t eat raw bread dough; it’ll give you a tummy ache.
  • Bread pudding is delicious!

Don’t be put off thinking the process of making bread is hard and laborious – this one is not at all. (The Guardian)

Bread Can’t Be Bred

So, whether it’s animal husbandry or a fresh loaf, you have to know the difference between bred and bread to convey the proper context in writing. Just remember that bread has an E and an A which are used to spell eat.


Enjoyed reading about these homophones? Check out some others we covered: