holotype

noun

ho·​lo·​type ˈhō-lə-ˌtīp  ˈhä- 

1

: the single specimen designated by an author as the type of a species or lesser taxon at the time of establishing the group

2

: the type of a species or lesser taxon designated at a date later than that of establishing a group or by a person other than the author of the taxon

holotypic

ˌhō-lə-ˈti-pik 

ˌhä-

adjective

Examples of holotype in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Researchers caught the holotype, or primary specimen used to describe the species, from a part of the river that was crossing a dirt road, according to the study. —Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 10 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1897, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for holotype

• allotype
• antitype
• archetype
• biotype
• collotype
• genotype
• haplotype
• hypotype
• isotype
• lectotype
• linotype
• monotype

Medical Definition

holotype

noun

ho·​lo·​type ˈhō-lə-ˌtīp  ˈhäl-ə- 

1

: the single specimen designated by an author as the type of a species or lesser taxon at the time of establishing the group

2

: the type of a species or lesser taxon designated at a date later than that of establishing a group or by another person than the author of the taxon