noun
genus
JEE-nuhs/ˈdʒiːnəs/
A biological grouping containing closely related species.
Lions, tigers, and leopards belong to the same genus.
Etymology
Latin genus could name a stock or family as well as a kind. English first used it for a logical class, then for a biological category grouping closely related species.
In context
belong to the Canis genus – the same family that has wolves, foxes, coyotes and dogs.
More examples
- A genus ranks above a species and below a family.
- The first word in a species' scientific name identifies its genus.
- These plants belong to different genera within the same family.
Forms
genus · genera
Similar words
- taxon
- A biological classification group at any rank, not just genus.