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

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 In 2011, former President Barack Obama signed a law removing wolves in the Northern Rocky Mountains from the endangered species list, a change that removed federal prohibitions on killing or harassing them in that region. — Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 14 Oct. 2026 The blue grosbeak is a species of songbirds found in many parts of South America, Birds of the World says. — David Goodhue october 6, Miami Herald, 6 Oct. 2026 Even the company’s name — derived from narwhals, a species of whale — represents connection. — Kai Naima Williams, Variety, 5 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 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
  • Over the period, visibility was supported by itinerant pop-ups under the new Miu Miu Vinyl Club format and the brand unveiled the Miu Miu Shanghai IFC lounge, a one-of-a-kind environment providing intimate hospitality.
    — Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Still, a controversy of some kind might have been inevitable.
    — Jack Denton, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of kind
Noun
  • Engineering better working dogs Warhound plans to start with two breeds already valued for military and police work.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Over the years, Kwan and his team also learned to work with a new breed of younger billionaires.
    — Angelica Ang, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of breed
Noun
  • Called the Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa, or RAGBRAI, the ride attracts thousands of cyclists from throughout the nation and world.
    — Washington Post, Washington Post, 24 Oct. 2026
  • The Sun enters your 12th House, drawing your attention toward rest, reflection, privacy, unfinished matters, and everything easier to hear when the outside world becomes less demanding.
    — Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of world
Noun
  • The complete list of Power 100 honorees — leaders chosen across 11 categories — is available on the Ebony website.
    — Gail Mitchell, Billboard, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Shouldn’t raising a child with debilitating epilepsy earn me some sort of exemption in the diagnosis category?
    — Jen Murphy Parker, Flow Space, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of category
Noun
  • It surely was meant to evoke Atlanta’s throwback helmet, which is an homage to the team’s original red helmet used from 1966 to 1969 that featured the falcon logo on the sides and the stripes running over the top and down the center.
    — Chuck Schilken, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Step 5 Arrange cornflake mixture and marshmallows over top of purée in alternating diagonal stripes.
    — Zoe Denenberg, Bon Appetit Magazine, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of stripe
Noun
  • His essay came after an employee resigned over fears that AI could pose a threat to humanity, and follows reports from Anthropic and its rivals of AI models hacking into other companies during testing.
    — Clare Duffy, CNN Money, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Those traits have their place and humanity wouldn’t be at the top of a terrifyingly competitive food chain without them.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 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
  • The couple’s case files later became the basis for the Conjuring horror film series, one of the highest-grossing franchises in the genre.
    — Frannie Comstock, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Titian rendered several small dogs, not just in portraits of Italian nobles, but in genre paintings of classical and biblical scenes, too.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 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 29 Oct. 2026.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about species

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