species
SPEE-sheez
Species (noun) means a group of living things that can breed with one another and produce fertile offspring; the basic unit of biological classification. Example: “The reserve protects many rare species of bird and butterfly.”
noun
1
A group of living things that can breed with one another and produce fertile offspring; the basic unit of biological classification.
"The reserve protects many rare species of bird and butterfly."
"There are thousands of species of beetle."
"Scientists discovered a new species of frog in the rainforest."
2
A distinct type or kind of something more generally.
"Procrastination is a common species of laziness, and I know it well."
"A strange species of silence fell over the room after her joke."
"It was a curious species of argument he was making."
How to use species
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA specific kind of living organism that can interbreed, or more loosely, any distinct type of something.
Common mistake
The word is both singular and plural — "one species," "many species," never "specie" (which means coined money) or "specieses."
Common pairings
endangered species
a new species
species of
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Word forms
- Plural
- specieses
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The reserve protects many rare _____ of bird and butterfly.
Etymology
From Latin species, "appearance, kind," from specio, "to look at" — the same root as "spectator" and "inspect."
Related words
Rhymes for species
See all rhymes for species →Frequently asked questions
What does “species” mean?
The word “species” means a group of living things that can breed with one another and produce fertile offspring; the basic unit of biological classification. In plain terms, a specific kind of living organism that can interbreed, or more loosely, any distinct type of something.
How do you pronounce “species”?
“Species” is pronounced SPEE-sheez (/ˈspiːʃiːz/ in IPA).
How do you use “species” in a sentence?
Here is “species” used in a sentence: “There are thousands of species of beetle.”
What part of speech is “species”?
“Species” is a noun.
Where does the word “species” come from?
The word “species” comes from Latin. From Latin species, "appearance, kind," from specio, "to look at" — the same root as "spectator" and "inspect.".
Is “species” a common word?
“Species” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “species” have?
“Species” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a group of living things that can breed with one another and produce fertile offspring; the basic unit of biological classification.
What is the difference between a species and a genus?
A species is the basic unit of classification, a group whose members can breed and produce fertile offspring. A genus is a broader group containing one or more closely related species. In scientific names, the genus comes first and the species second, as in Homo (genus) sapiens (species).
What is the difference between a species and a breed?
A species is a natural group of organisms that can interbreed and produce fertile young. A breed is a human-made variety within a single species, developed through selective breeding, as with dogs. All dog breeds belong to one species, so a Poodle and a Labrador can still have fertile puppies together.
How are new species named?
Species are named using a two-part Latin system called binomial nomenclature, devised by Carl Linnaeus. The first word is the genus and the second identifies the species, as in Panthera leo for the lion. Names are written in italics, with the genus capitalised and the species name in lower case.
Why is the concept of species important?
Species is the foundation of how we organise and understand life. It lets scientists identify organisms, track biodiversity, study evolution, and target conservation. Knowing whether populations belong to the same species also guides breeding, ecology, and law, since endangered species often receive legal protection. It is biology's basic building block.
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