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

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

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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 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 By hitchhiking on a passing virus, transposons can defy species boundaries and land in a totally new evolutionary setting. — Jake Buehler, Quanta Magazine, 21 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 tie-in between the world’s largest beauty company and reigning two-time UEFA Champions League winner will last through 2028, and is the first of its kind for L’Oréal.
    — Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 8 Oct. 2026
  • In groundbreaking litigation, Munkittrick is leading the charge for Warner Music Group in a first-of-its-kind case arguing that the major labels’ licensing of sound recordings for generative AI training violates the Sound Recording Labor Agreement.
    — Claudia Rosenbaum, HollywoodReporter, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of kind
Noun
  • The new breed of post-rock bands, on the other hand, were cribbing ideas from the worlds of dance music and hip-hop.
    — Sadie Sartini Garner, Pitchfork, 4 Oct. 2026
  • Once confined to the Southeast, lone star ticks spread from Maine to Oklahoma in recent years as the climate warmed and as a decline in hunting led to an explosive growth in the number of whitetail deer, where lone stars find mates and breed.
    — Bob Drogin, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of breed
Noun
  • More delegates from Latin America, the Arab world and Africa could lift the number of countries represented past 60, and possibly above 70.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Run by the art world’s favorite chef Mina Stone, the café serves an all-day menu of hearty salads, flavorful soups, Greek mezze and fancy toast.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of world
Noun
  • The role brought him an Indian National Film Award for best supporting actor and the Filmfare award in the same category.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Some 42% purchased in at least two collectible categories beyond fine and decorative art, close to baby boomers at 39%.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of category
Noun
  • The matching trousers, made from fine wool, have a silk-satin side stripe, along with a bow tie and a cummerbund in the same material.
    — Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Chasing Paper Linen Stripe Peel and Stick Wallpaper As Rees mentioned, trends come and trends go, but the classic stripe is forever.
    — Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of stripe
Noun
  • Geoff warns Ilya to moderate his projections, emphasizing the need for safeguards, but the idealistic Russian is swept up in the vast potential of AI — to solve the climate crisis, cure cancer, even save humanity from itself.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Just in the nick of time, our AI challenges are solved and the future of humanity is safe from extinction.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of humanity
Noun
  • Wolbachia is a genus of bacteria found naturally on many insects.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Living up to their namesake — Strix is a genus of owl — the SAR satellites are designed to collect Earth-observation data even in poor lighting conditions, and can peer through cloud cover to study the ground below.
    — Josh Dinner, Space.com, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of genus
Noun
  • Ho, who co-founded 852 Films, picked up the Fantastic Icon Award at BIFAN’s 30th edition, honoring her body of work in genre film.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 8 Oct. 2026
  • The entries span genres from horror and thriller to family drama and documentary, tackling subjects including Algeria’s civil conflict, Lebanon’s banking crisis, ISIS, migrant-worker exploitation, and life in Gaza.
    — Melissa Hancock, Fortune, 7 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 11 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on species

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about species

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