noun
genus
JEE-nuhs
noun
1
A biological classification rank grouping closely related species, sitting below family and above species.
"Lions and tigers belong to the genus Panthera."
"Scientists placed the newly discovered beetle in an existing genus."
2
A general category or kind sharing common features.
"The book was praised as a fine example of its genus."
How to Use Genus
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA scientific grouping of related living things, one level above species.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
genus and species
a new genus
Word Forms
genera plural, genuses plural, genusses plural, genii plural
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “genus”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
Lions and tigers belong to the _____ Panthera.
Etymology
Borrowed from Latin genus ("birth, origin, kind"), from the same root that gives us gender and genre.