species

noun

ˈspē-(ˌ)shēz How to pronounce species (audio)
Definition of speciesnext
1
as in type
one of the units into which a whole is divided on the basis of a common characteristic a music that is now generally regarded as a distinct species of rap

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2
as in kind
a number of persons or things that are grouped together because they have something in common in the late 1960s there emerged a new species of actor: edgy and not conventionally handsome

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3
as in world
human beings in general the future of the species may well depend on our willingness to limit the impact of an ever-increasing population

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of species The new definition removes an interpretation that had been used for half a century, and upheld by the Supreme Court, that harming an endangered species includes eliminating that species’ habitat. — Timothy Randhir, The Conversation, 1 Oct. 2026 The species Cichorium intybus (the botanical name for chicory) includes the green stalky Catalogna; the pan di zucchero, which is the Italian equivalent of iceberg; and the gorgeous radicchio. — Tamar Adler, Vogue, 29 Sep. 2026 Anthony Aguirre, a physicist and co-founder of the Future of Life Institute, a nonprofit focused on tech risks, compares the prospect of rogue AI agents running wild to an invasive species attacking a delicate ecosystem. — Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 28 Sep. 2026 But the film is something of an endangered species since studios have more or less stopped making theatrical comedies. — Brent Lang, IndieWire, 25 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for species
Recent Examples of Synonyms for species
  1. kind
  2. breed
  3. world
  4. category
  5. stripe
  6. humanity
  7. genus
  8. genre
Noun
  • The tie-in between the world’s largest beauty company and reigning two-time UEFA Champions League winner will last through 2028, and is the first of its kind for L’Oréal.
    — Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 8 Oct. 2026
  • In groundbreaking litigation, Munkittrick is leading the charge for Warner Music Group in a first-of-its-kind case arguing that the major labels’ licensing of sound recordings for generative AI training violates the Sound Recording Labor Agreement.
    — Claudia Rosenbaum, HollywoodReporter, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of kind
Noun
  • The latest breed of artificial intelligence assistants goes beyond the abilities of chatbots, which are great at answering questions and creating content.
    — Alexa LoMonaco, CNBC, 9 Oct. 2026
  • The Association of Zoos and Aquariums Species Survival Plan had recommended that Rupert breed with Tensing, the Denver Zoo’s 18-year-old female rhino.
    — Celia Frazier, Denver Post, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of breed
Noun
  • More delegates from Latin America, the Arab world and Africa could lift the number of countries represented past 60, and possibly above 70.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Run by the art world’s favorite chef Mina Stone, the café serves an all-day menu of hearty salads, flavorful soups, Greek mezze and fancy toast.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of world
Noun
  • Chen said another product category that has taken off is their souvenir merchandise.
    — Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Adenocarcinomas belong to a broader category of lung cancers known as non-small cell lung cancer, which tend to grow more slowly and spread less quickly to other parts of the body.
    — Alice Park, Time, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of category
Noun
  • The Adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3 led three runners to historic highs in London, with Sabastian Sawe — the race’s men’s winner — and fellow three-stripes athlete Yomif Kejelcha both breaking the sub-2-hour marathon barrier for the first time.
    — Katie Abel, Footwear News, 11 Oct. 2026
  • Governments across Europe of every political stripe are tightening integration rules.
    — Tyler Speicher, FOXNews.com, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of stripe
Noun
  • This collective nature has a layering effect, telegraphing a specific sense of style and humanity increasingly rare in the world of contemporary hotels.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 Oct. 2026
  • To Reynolds, Mai was an embodiment of the universal nobility of humanity – a far cry from Westminster Magazine’s depiction of the islander as no more than a cheap amusement.
    — Saar Shahar, The Conversation, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of humanity
Noun
  • Instead, the auction house’s latest high-profile specimen is a Nanotyrannus, a mid-size tyrannosaurid genus that, according to Artnet, had previously been for sale for $20 million at Frieze Masters in 2023.
    — Leigh Anne Miller, ARTnews.com, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Instead, the crocodilian’s features represent a new genus, Herugavialis.
    — Taylor Nicioli, CNN Money, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of genus
Noun
  • Hottest genres in Spain As in the rest of the world, dramas – across a wide spectrum of crime, suspense and fantasy to family drama – proved the hottest genre, weighing in as half the premieres during that period (15 titles).
    — Annika Pham, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Chow followed it with Kung Fu Hustle (2004), another genre-blending smash that earned more than $100 million worldwide and cemented his reputation as one of Hong Kong’s greatest comedy-action hitmakers.
    — Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of genre

Browse Nearby Words

specie
species
specific
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Cite this Entry

“Species.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/species. Accessed 15 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on species

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about species

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