mongrel

[ muhng-gruhl, mong- ]

noun

1. a dog of mixed or indeterminate breed.

   Synonyms: mutt

2. any animal or plant resulting from the crossing of different breeds or varieties.

   Synonyms: half-breed, cross

   Antonyms: purebred, thoroughbred

3. any cross between different things, especially if inharmonious or indiscriminate.

adjective

1. of mixed breed, nature, or origin; of or like a mongrel.

mongrel

/ ˈmʌŋɡrəl /

noun

1. a plant or animal, esp a dog, of mixed or unknown breeding; a crossbreed or hybrid
2. taboo.
   a person of mixed race
3. sport toughness and physical aggression

   a tall southpaw with plenty of mongrel

adjective

1. of mixed origin, breeding, character, etc

Derived Forms

• ˈmongrelism, noun
• ˈmongrelly, adjective

Other Words From

• mongrel·ism mongrel·ness noun
• mongrel·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of mongrel¹

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English (once): heraldic term for a type of dog; equivalent to mong(e) “mixture” ( Old English gemang; mingle ) + -rel

Word History and Origins

Origin of mongrel¹

C15: from obsolete mong mixture; compare Old English gemong a mingling

Synonym Study

See hybrid.

Example Sentences

Bruce, "the rescue centre mongrel", sadly died from the tumour at the age of 12.

From BBC

They have not yet missed Stuart Broad's bowling because of how few pacemen have been chosen on the tour, but they have missed his mongrel.

From BBC

Not so much dog days as the mongrel years.

From BBC

Lee Williams, who lives just down the road, can’t believe the government is spending millions of taxpayer dollars to protect what he considers “a mongrel.”

From Seattle Times

They embraced this biracial heritage with their name, Azkals, a local slang for a mongrel or half-breed dog.

From BBC

About This Word

What does mongrel mean?

The word mongrel is most commonly used to refer to a dog that’s a mix of breeds or whose breed is unknown. It’s used in the same way as the word mutt, and, like mutt, can be negative or ironically affectionate.  

However, mongrel is also a racist slur applied to people who are considered to be or who identify as mixed-race. The racist slur half-breed is used in the same way. Even when it’s applied to a person without regard to race, mongrel can still carry racist connotations, namely the implication that such a person’s behavior is like that of people whom racists consider inferior. 

Less commonly, mongrel is applied to animals other than dogs (and other living things, like plants) to indicate that they are a result of crossbreeding. It has traditionally also been used in more general ways (as both a noun and an adjective) in reference to anything that’s the result of combining multiple unlike sources, as in English is a mongrel language. Such uses are usually derogatory, implying that such things are impure or deficient. 

The word hybrid is a neutral way to describe plants and animals that are a result of crossbreeding or, in the case of nonliving things, some kind of combination.

Where does mongrel come from?

The first records of the word mongrel come from around 1425. It ultimately comes from the Old English gemang, meaning “mingle.”

Did you know … ?

What are some other forms related to mongrel?

• mongrelism (noun)
• mongrelly (adverb)
• mongrelize (verb)

What are some synonyms for mongrel?

• mutt
• cur
• crossbreed

What are some words that share a root or word element with mongrel? 

• mingle

What are some words that often get used in discussing mongrel?

• dog
• mixed
• breed
• parentage

How is mongrel used in real life?

When used as a term for a mixed-breed dog, mongrel can be used in a negative or ironically affectionate way. When applied to people, it can be an extremely offensive racist slur.

My dog, a collie-like mongrel, just managed to force himself through a bush into next doors garden and got himself stuck ffs

— Kira 🌻 FINALLY A YANFEI HAVER (@hangeiist) October 17, 2020