species

noun

spe·cies | \ˈspē-(ˌ)shēz,

-(ˌ)sēz\

plural species

Definition of species

(Entry 1 of 2)

b : a class of individuals having common attributes and designated by a common name specifically : a logical division of a genus or more comprehensive class confessing sins in species and in number

c : the human race : human beings —often used with the survival of the species in the nuclear age

d(1) : a category of biological classification ranking immediately below the genus or subgenus, comprising related organisms or populations potentially capable of interbreeding, and being designated by a binomial that consists of the name of a genus followed by a Latin or latinized uncapitalized noun or adjective agreeing grammatically with the genus name

(2) : an individual or kind belonging to a biological species

e : a particular kind of atomic nucleus, atom, molecule, or ion

2 : the consecrated eucharistic elements of the Roman Catholic or Eastern Orthodox Eucharist

3a : a mental image also : a sensible object

b : an object of thought correlative with a natural object

species

adjective

Definition of species (Entry 2 of 2)

: belonging to a biological species as distinguished from a horticultural variety a species rose

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Examples of species in a Sentence

Noun

There are approximately 8,000 species of ants. All European domestic cattle belong to the same species. laws that protect endangered species

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Here, fossils of short people thought to be early H. erectus date back to about 1.85 million years—just after the species appears in Africa. — Ann Gibbons, Science | AAAS, "Our ancestors may have left Africa hundreds of thousands of years earlier than thought," 11 July 2018 The monarch butterfly was submitted for consideration for the federal endangered species list in 2014 and the decision by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will be announced June 2019. — Anna Groves, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "They're beautiful — and in danger. Now, a huge effort focuses on saving monarch butterflies," 13 July 2018 But neutralizing overall harm doesn’t move a species any closer to recovery, which is why environmentalists frequently oppose these permits. — Peter S. Alagona, Outside Online, "The Endangered Species Act Needs a Reboot," 9 July 2018 That’s important in Florida, the insect capital of the United States and the gateway for an average of a new species arrival every month. — Jack Payne, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Insects as art: How Florida can overcome the yuck factor," 9 July 2018 People are finding more dinosaurs now than ever before: somebody somewhere around the world is finding a new species on average once a week. — Andrew Liptak, The Verge, "How Jurassic Park led to the modernization of dinosaur paleontology," 23 June 2018 But the case for J. imperialis was solid enough to get through peer review, and this wouldn’t be the first time a primate species has been accepted on the basis of a single example. — Kiona N. Smith, Ars Technica, "Extinct gibbon in ancient Chinese tomb hints at other lost primate species," 22 June 2018 By keeping this species alive through excellent care and selective breeding, the WCC and the other facilities that are a part of the Red Wolf Species Survival Plan are keeping the hope alive that the red wolf can thrive in the wild once more. — Kelli Bender, PEOPLE.com, "With Only 30 Red Wolves Left in the Wild, These 10 Newborn Pups Are Big News," 22 June 2018 The potential contained in any plant species is really a reflection of their history. — Eric Boodman, STAT, "Will launching plants into orbit yield new medicines?," 22 June 2018

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

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Last Updated

20 Oct 2018

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The first known use of species was in the 14th century

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More Definitions for species

species

noun

English Language Learners Definition of species

biology : a group of animals or plants that are similar and can produce young animals or plants : a group of related animals or plants that is smaller than a genus

: a particular group of things or people that belong together or have some shared quality

See the full definition for species in the English Language Learners Dictionary

species

noun

spe·cies | \ˈspē-shēz,

-sēz\

plural species

Kids Definition of species

1 : a group of similar living things that ranks below the genus in scientific classification and is made up of individuals able to produce offspring with one another The one-humped camel is a different species from the two-humped camel.

2 : a class of things of the same kind and with the same name : kind, sort

species

noun

spe·cies | \ˈspē-(ˌ)shēz,

-(ˌ)sēz

plural species

Medical Definition of species

1a : a category of biological classification ranking immediately below the genus or subgenus, comprising related organisms or populations potentially capable of interbreeding, and being designated by a binomial that consists of the name of the genus followed by a Latin or latinized uncapitalized noun or adjective agreeing grammatically with the genus name

b : an individual or kind belonging to a biological species

2 : a particular kind of atomic nucleus, atom, molecule, or ion production of DNA damage by active oxygen species