DictionaryAI

species

noun
SPEE-sheez/ˈspiːʃiːz/

Pluralspecies

9 meanings of species

Practice

  1. 1
    animal or plant typenouncountable
    A group of animals or plants of one kind that can breed together. In science, it is the level below genus.

    Like one big family group whose members can have babies together.

    Cats and dogs belong to separate species and cannot breed together.

    The giant panda is a species found only in parts of China.

    UsageSpecies is the same for one or many: one species, ten species.

    Note
  2. 2
    nouncountable
    A particular kind or sort of something.

    He told a strange species of joke that no one understood.

    That is a rare species of kindness these days.

    UsageSay a species of + a noun, meaning a kind of.

    Similarkind, sort, type, variety, form

    Note
  3. 3
    chemistry particlenouncountable
    A certain kind of atom, molecule, or particle in chemistry.

    Like different kinds of building blocks, each block being one species.

    When salt dissolves in water, it splits into two different chemical species.

    Scientists track every species that takes part in the reaction.

    Note

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of species apart? Answer 4 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

From Latin speciēs meaning "appearance," which came from speciō "to see." It is a doublet of "spice."

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 3 facts