genus

[ jee-nuhs ]

noun

, plural gen·e·ra [jen, -er-, uh], ge·nus·es.

1. Biology. the usual major subdivision of a family or subfamily in the classification of organisms, usually consisting of more than one species.
2. Logic. a class or group of individuals, or of species of individuals.
3. a kind; sort; class.

genus

/ ˈdʒiːnəs /

noun

1. biology any of the taxonomic groups into which a family is divided and which contains one or more species. For example, Vulpes (foxes) is a genus of the dog family ( Canidae )
2. logic a class of objects or individuals that can be divided into two or more groups or species
3. a class, group, etc, with common characteristics
4. maths a number characterizing a closed surface in topology equal to the number of handles added to a sphere to form the surface. A sphere has genus 0, a torus, genus 1, etc

genus

/ jē′nəs /

, Plural genera jĕn′ər-ə

1. A group of organisms ranking above a species and below a family. The names of genera, like those of species, are written in italics. For example, Periplaneta is the genus of the American cockroach, and comes from the Greek for “wandering about.”
2. See Table at taxonomy

genus

1. In biology , the classification lower than a family and higher than a species . Wolves belong to the same genus as dogs. Foxes belong to a different genus from that of dogs and wolves, but to the same family. ( See Linnean classification .)

Other Words From

• pseudo·genus noun plural pseudogenera pseudogenuses

Word History and Origins

Origin of genus¹

1545–55; < Latin: race, stock, kind, gender; cognate with Greek génos. See gens, gender ¹, kin

Word History and Origins

Origin of genus¹

C16: from Latin: race

Example Sentences

That genus and seven other related living ones make up the Camponotini ant “tribe,” all of which have bacteria inside their gut cells.

From Quanta Magazine

He and colleagues assigned the fossil, which was eroding out of previously dated sediment at a site called Ramnagar, to a new genus and species, Kapi ramnagarensis.

From Science News

The reptile, from the genus Guizhouichthyosaurus, lived during the Triassic Period about 240 million years ago.

From Science News

Many modern animals have close relatives — other species that are in their same genus.

From Science News For Students

Instead, they sorted the ancient prints into a “footprint genus.”

From Science News For Students

The genus-species distinction that we still use is a legacy of Aristotle.

From The Daily Beast

Many products list only the genus and species, but different strains provide different benefits (more on that later).

From The Daily Beast

The most common probiotic bacteria come from two genus groups: Lactobacillus or Bifidobacterium, although there are many others.

From The Daily Beast

Others in the vast genus of viruses—at least 100—cause human disease.

From The Daily Beast

He has studied the Vibrio genus of bacteria for more than 40 years and still finds it eminently fascinating.

From The Daily Beast

Thus we see that these two lines bear towards each other the relation of genus and species.

From Project Gutenberg

The sexual cycle can take place only within the body of one genus of mosquito, anopheles.

From Project Gutenberg

M. Peron says that it forms a new genus, and of a very remarkable character.

From Project Gutenberg

This genus appears to be nearly allied to the Agamae, but differs from them in the peculiar frill that is appended to the neck.

From Project Gutenberg

There are two other species of this genus in Captain King's collection, which appear to be new.

From Project Gutenberg