Dictionary.com
definitions

tautonym

[ taw-tuh-nim ]
/ ˈtɔ tə nɪm /

noun Biology.

a scientific name in which the generic and the specific names are the same, as Chloris chloris (the greenfinch).

Nearby words

  1. tautology,
  2. tautomer,
  3. tautomeric fiber,
  4. tautomerism,
  5. tautomerize,
  6. tautonymous,
  7. tautosyllabic,
  8. tav,
  9. tavel,
  10. tavener

Origin of tautonym

1895–1900; < Greek tautṓnymos of the same name, equivalent to tauto- tauto- + -ōnymos named; see -onym
Related formstau·to·nym·ic, tau·ton·y·mous [taw-ton-uh-muh s] /tɔˈtɒn ə məs/, adjectivetau·ton·y·my, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
British Dictionary definitions for tautonym

tautonym

/ (ˈtɔːtənɪm) /

noun

biology a taxonomic name in which the generic and specific components are the same, as in Rattus rattus (black rat)
Derived Formstautonymic or tautonymous (tɔːˈtɒnɪməs), adjectivetautonymy, noun

Word Origin for tautonym

C20: from Greek tautonymos. See tauto-, -onym
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012