scientific name

American  

[sahy-uhn-tif-ik naym] / ˈsaɪ ənˌtɪf ɪk ˈneɪm /

noun

scientific names plural

1. the name used by scientists for a particular organism, consisting of the genus name followed by the species name, conventionally in italics and with the genus name spelled with a capital letter, the species name with a lower-case letter; taxonomic name, binomial nomenclature.

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scientific name Scientific  

/ sī′ən-tĭf′ĭk /

1. A name used by scientists, especially the taxonomic name of an organism that consists of the genus and species. Scientific names usually come from Latin or Greek. An example is Homo sapiens, the scientific name for humans.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• scientific naming
  noun

Inflected Forms

noun

• scientific names
  plural

Example Sentences

Each newly discovered species must be given a scientific name, and researchers often draw inspiration from people, experiences, or even popular culture.

From Science Daily • Mar. 25, 2026

The frog was logged under specimen number KU 221832 and given the scientific name Dendrobates duellmani.

From Science Daily • Jan. 6, 2026

The fox, which goes by the scientific name, Dusicyon avus, was of a medium size weighing 10-15 kg.

From BBC • Apr. 9, 2024

Separate from WHO’s decision, ICTV’s poxvirus group had a vote on whether to change the scientific name for the virus that causes mpox.

From Science Magazine • Apr. 3, 2024

Below each gay scrap of color was a scientific name in my grandfather’s careful copperplate script.

From "The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate" by Jacqueline Kelly