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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
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

Synonyms & Similar Words
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 latest salvo is a two-week ad campaign launching Thursday in the Atlanta and Macon markets, the first broadcast buy of its kind for the caucus.
    — Adam Beam, AJC.com, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Non-essential workers—executives, administrators, management of all kinds—disappeared into Zoom en masse across the country.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of kind
Noun
  • Beyond walking, pet owners should tailor exercise to a dog’s breed, age and mobility.
    — Will Boyd, Baltimore Sun, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Which dog breeds tend to live the longest If longevity is the priority, a handful of smaller breeds routinely post the longest lifespans, according to breed data compiled by Reader’s Digest.
    — Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of breed
Noun
  • Who would want the callous world that successfully cloistered the feelings of others?
    — Eugenie Brinkema, ARTnews.com, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Daily Alerts Stay informed as soon as important news breaks around Washington DC and the entire world.
    — Washington Examiner, The Washington Examiner, 17 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
  • Both iterations feature Bape’s Sta logo and Vans’ Jazz stripe.
    — Stephen Garner, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026
  • This whimsical set mixes apple designs, retro polka dots, and colorful stripes for a look that’s equal parts sweet and charming.
    — Amanda Le, InStyle, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of stripe
Noun
  • If that is impossible for systems much larger than atoms, many of humanity’s current technological efforts would be wasted.
    — Philipp Strasberg, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Anthropic said that its initiative will give it more flexibility and scale to make donations for the benefit of humanity.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of humanity
Noun
  • How to identify deadly mushrooms One of the most noticeable features of any mushroom in the Amanita genus is the universal veil, a membranous tissue from which the fungi emerge.
    — Hali Smith, Idaho Statesman, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The genetic tests and a detailed study of its morphology revealed that the fungus is a new species, a new genus, and even a new family.
    — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 14 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
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Species.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/species. Accessed 22 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on species

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about species

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of vocation

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All