best of breed: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Business, Technical
Quick answer
What does “best of breed” mean?
The highest quality example within a specific category or type, often used in business and technology contexts to denote superior products or solutions.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The highest quality example within a specific category or type, often used in business and technology contexts to denote superior products or solutions.
A person, product, or service considered the finest or most exemplary in its particular field or class, implying it has been selected from among many competitors.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. Slightly more common in American business/tech jargon. Spelling remains the same.
Connotations
In both varieties, it connotes a formal, competitive selection. In UK English, the agricultural/show origin might be slightly more present in the cultural consciousness.
Frequency
Moderately low frequency in both, but more established in American corporate and IT vocabulary.
Grammar
How to Use “best of breed” in a Sentence
[be] + best of breed + in + [field][select/choose] + the best of breed[a/an] + best-of-breed + [noun] (hyphenated adjective form)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “best of breed” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- Their best-of-breed approach to cybersecurity integrates several specialist tools.
- We are looking for a best-of-breed logistics partner.
American English
- The company adopted a best-of-breed strategy for its software stack.
- They only implement best-of-breed solutions for data management.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used to describe a company's strategy of choosing the best individual software components from different vendors rather than a single integrated suite. 'We pursue a best-of-breed strategy for our CRM and ERP systems.'
Academic
Rare. Might appear in business or technology management papers discussing procurement strategies.
Everyday
Very rare. Could be used humorously or metaphorically, e.g., 'This bakery is the best of breed for sourdough in the city.'
Technical
Common in IT, software development, and procurement. Refers to selecting the best software/hardware for a specific function regardless of vendor.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “best of breed”
- Using it as a simple adjective without 'of' (e.g., 'a best breed software' is wrong).
- Overusing in informal contexts where 'the best' would suffice.
- Confusing it with 'best in show' (overall winner vs. category winner).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is typically not hyphenated when used as a noun phrase ('the best of breed'). It is often hyphenated when used as a compound modifier before a noun ('a best-of-breed solution').
They are largely synonymous in modern business use. 'Best of breed' retains a stronger metaphorical link to its agricultural origin and is slightly more common in IT/tech contexts. 'Best in class' is more general.
Yes, but it is metaphorical and somewhat jargonistic. E.g., 'He's considered the best of breed among corporate lawyers specialising in mergers.' It's more common for products and services.
It is a formal or semi-formal business/technical term. It would sound out of place in casual everyday conversation, where 'the best' or 'top' would be used instead.
The highest quality example within a specific category or type, often used in business and technology contexts to denote superior products or solutions.
Best of breed: in British English it is pronounced /ˌbest əv ˈbriːd/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌbest əv ˈbriːd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Pick of the litter (closest analogue from the original breeding context)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a dog show: the 'Best in Show' is the best dog overall, but the 'Best of Breed' is the best *within its specific kind* (like poodles or terriers). The term works the same for software 'breeds' like antivirus or accounting programs.
Conceptual Metaphor
COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/COMPANIES ARE LIVESTOCK. Selection for quality is analogous to judging animals at a show.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'best of breed' MOST naturally used?