genus

noun ge·nus \ ˈjē-nəs , ˈje- \

|Updated on: 21 Jul 2018

Definition of genus

plural genera play \ˈje-nə-rə\ also genuses

1 : a class, kind, or group marked by common characteristics or by one common characteristic; specifically : a category of biological classification ranking between the family and the species, comprising structurally or phylogenetically (see phylogenetic 2) related species or an isolated species exhibiting unusual differentiation, and being designated by a Latin or latinized capitalized singular noun

2 : a class of objects divided into several subordinate species

See genus defined for English-language learners

See genus defined for kids

Examples of genus in a Sentence

the crime novel, written from the criminal's perspective, is sometimes seen as a particular species of the detective story genus

Recent Examples of genus from the Web

By harnessing computer modelling, scientists were able to identify a new genus and species of gibbon.

— james rogers, Fox News, "Mysterious remains of extinct ape discovered in ancient Chinese tomb," 22 June 2018
Willow flycatchers belong to the genus Empidonax, a maddeningly difficult taxonomic group to sort out in the field.

— taylor piephoff, charlotteobserver, "Willow flycatchers are maddingly difficult to identify in the field," 13 June 2018
The Tasmanian tiger, known to science as the thylacine, was the only member of its genus of marsupial carnivores to live to modern times.

— brooke jarvis, The New Yorker, "The Obsessive Search for the Tasmanian Tiger," 16 Jan. 2012
About that Latin name: the genus name Aegolius is a type of screech owl thought to be a bird of ill omen.

— ned rozell, Anchorage Daily News, "During long summer days in Alaska, Boreal owls perform by daylight," 30 June 2018
Qualitas is growing a genus of algae called nannochloropsis, targeting each of omega-3’s two essential long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids.

— lynn brezosky, San Antonio Express-News, "Remote Texas algae farm grows a food for the future," 27 June 2018
Their statistical analysis found both the skull and molars were so distinct from all of today's gibbons that the fossil belonged to a separate genus.

— gretchen vogel, Science | AAAS, "Vanished ape found in ancient Chinese tomb, giving clues to its disappearance," 21 June 2018
Tillandsia, commonly known as air plants, is the largest genus (about 500 species) in the bromeliad family.

— karen dardick, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Bromeliads create garden drama," 17 May 2018
Simpson’s stopper is in a separate genus, but same family.

— kenneth setzer, miamiherald, "Yes, the Surinam cherry is edible, but that doesn't mean you're going to like it | Miami Herald," 10 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'genus.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of genus

Latin gener-, genus birth, race, kind — more at kin

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1551

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

genus Synonyms

Synonyms

bracket, category, class, classification, division, family, grade, group, kind, league, order, rank(s), rubric, set, species, tier, type;

branch, section, speciality, specialty, subclass, subdivision, subgroup, subspecies, variety;

breed, race;

generation;

heading, label, title;

Other Biology Terms

autochthonous, fecund, homunculus, phylogeny, substrate

GENUS Defined for English Language Learners

genus

noun

Definition of genus for English Language Learners

biology : a group of related animals or plants that includes several or many different species

GENUS Defined for Kids

genus

noun ge·nus \ ˈjē-nəs \

Definition of genus for Students

plural genera \ˈje-nə-rə\

: a group of related living things (as plants or animals) that ranks below the family in scientific classification and is made up of one or more species

Medical Dictionary

genus

noun ge·nus \ ˈjē-nəs , ˈjen-əs \

medical Definition of genus

plural genera play \ˈjen-ə-rə\

: a class, kind, or group marked by common characteristics or by one common characteristic; specifically : a category of biological classification ranking between the family and the species, comprising structurally or phylogenetically related species or an isolated species exhibiting unusual differentiation, and designated by a Latin or latinized capitalized singular noun