Species Definition, Usage & Examples Explained

Meaning 1：a biological group (species)

species 🔊

/ˈspiːʃiːz/

A group of living things that look similar, can have babies together, and those babies can also have babies.

Species classification chart showing dog, cat, and bird examples with scientific names

a biological group 🔊

➕

/ə ˌbaɪəˈlɒdʒɪkəl ɡruːp/

A basic category in biological taxonomy, grouping organisms that share common characteristics and can interbreed.

📁 Category：Animal Protection 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'species' meaning 'a kind, sort, or appearance', related to 'specere' (to look at).

💡 Mnemonic

Think of a specific (SPEC-) group of creatures. The word sounds like 'SPECial species'.

📖 Example

The conservationists are working hard to save the rare frog species found only in this small rainforest. 🔊 Conservationists are dedicated to preserving a unique frog type that exists solely in this limited rainforest area.

🔗 Collocations

endangered species – a type of plant or animal at serious risk of extinction

native species – plants or animals that occur naturally in a particular region

type species – the species that serves as the standard reference for defining a genus

🔄 Synonyms

type (n.) – A category of things having common characteristics; less formal and specific than 'species' in biology.

kind (n.) – A general term for a group with shared attributes; very common in everyday speech.

genus (n.) – A taxonomic rank above species, grouping together closely related species.

🌱 Derivatives

subspecies (n.) – A taxonomic category below a species, representing a distinct population with minor differences.

📖 Cultural Story

The Latin word 'species' originally referred to 'appearance' or 'form'. It entered English via the biological classification system of Carl Linnaeus, where it became the fundamental unit for grouping organisms. This scientific adoption solidified its modern meaning.