specific name

[ spi-sif-ik neym ]

/ spɪˈsɪf ɪk ˈneɪm /

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noun Zoology.

(in binomial nomenclature) the second part, always lowercased, of an animal species’ scientific name, but not applicable to plant species: for example, the species Sciurus carolinensis is a squirrel, as all squirrels belong to the genus Sciurus, but it is the specific name carolinensis that identifies the particular species, which is the eastern gray squirrel.

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Also called specific epithet .

Origin of specific name

First recorded in 1750–55

Words nearby specific name

specific heat, specific heat capacity, specific humidity, specific impulse, specificity, specific name, specific performance, specific phobia, specific resistance, specific viscosity, specific volume

How to use specific name in a sentence

Pegasus is the name of a software exploit product created and sold by an Israeli outfit called the NSO group, and “FORCEDENTRY” is the more specific name of the vulnerability.
You need to protect yourself from zero-click attacks|Shira Feder|September 18, 2021|Popular-Science
In our teaching, water was given to us, and it has specific prayers and a specific name and water has a song.
"It's Critical That The Rivers Continue to Flow." Environmental Activist Nicole Horseherder on Reclaiming Water Rights for Native Americans|Eben Shapiro|August 30, 2021|Time
Many cultures even have a specific name for the ghoulish occurrence.
Why do we see ghosts?|Jake Bittle|October 6, 2020|Popular-Science
Its specific name is derived from its habit of covering itself with a coating of earth, and so becoming inconspicuous.
Our British Snails|John William Horsley

The specific name recalls that gold and silver paint used to be sold in these shells (or marine mussels) for illuminating work.
Our British Snails|John William Horsley
Inornata is a very appropriate specific name for this tiny earth-brown bird, which is devoid of all kind of ornamentation.
A Bird Calendar for Northern India|Douglas Dewar
So peculiar is it, that in Peru the ‘Colour de vicuña’ (vicuña colour) has become a specific name.
The Hunters' Feast|Mayne Reid
This cochineal lives by preference (at least, so it is supposed) on the evergreen oak (Quercus ilex), whence its specific name.
The Insect World|Louis Figuier