as in type
one of the units into which a whole is divided on the basis of a common characteristic
the crime novel, written from the criminal's perspective, is sometimes seen as a particular species of the detective story genus
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Recent Examples of genus
However, Easter cactus is from a different genus.
—
Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 15 Mar. 2026
The species belongs to the genus Scorpiops and shares anatomical features with related Euscorpiops species.
—Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 10 Mar. 2026
The oxalis genus includes a wide variety of plants collectively known as wood sorrels.
—Kerry Michaels, The Spruce, 9 Mar. 2026
The genus Acanthochitona developed about 92 million years ago during the Late Cretaceous, when dinosaurs still roamed the Earth.
—Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 3 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for genus
Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 15 Mar. 2026
The species belongs to the genus Scorpiops and shares anatomical features with related Euscorpiops species.
—Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 10 Mar. 2026
The oxalis genus includes a wide variety of plants collectively known as wood sorrels.
—Kerry Michaels, The Spruce, 9 Mar. 2026
The genus Acanthochitona developed about 92 million years ago during the Late Cretaceous, when dinosaurs still roamed the Earth.
—Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 3 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for genus
Recent Examples of Synonyms for genus
Noun
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Jennifer Brown of Kingwood lands in that category.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
9 Apr. 2026
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This is all in the first three paragraphs, and the breakdowns—a capacious category that, for Lemann, seems to encompass everything from rages to amiable fugues—do not let up.—
Brandy Jensen,
New Yorker,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Featuring one-of-a-kind prints and stand out colors, each piece feels special -- like it was made just for you.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 Apr. 2026
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The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival at the Empire Polo Club in Indio is regarded as one of the largest of its kind in the world, drawing more than 125,000 people a day across two consecutive weekends in April.—
Cerys Davies,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
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While all the common camellia species make a fine hedge, the species Camellia sasanqua has the advantage of tolerating both full sun and partial shade.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
9 Apr. 2026
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The worms, a species called Caenorhabditis elegans, are tiny creatures about 1 millimeter long that are commonly found in soil and have been used in biology research for decades.—
Tereza Pultarova,
Space.com,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Genus.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/genus. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.
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