taxon

American  

[tak-son] / ˈtæk sɒn /

noun

• taxa
  plural

1. a taxonomic category, as a species or genus.

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taxon British  

/ ˈtæksɒn /

noun

1. biology any taxonomic group or rank

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taxon Scientific  

/ tăk′sŏn′ /

• taxa
  plural

1. A taxonomic category or group, such as a phylum, order, family, genus, or species.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• taxa
  plural

Etymology

Origin of taxon

First recorded in 1945–50; from Greek táx(is) “arranged, put in order” + -on neuter noun ending; see taxis ¹, -on ¹

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

taxon taxa

"The discovery of one lazarus taxon... is an exceptional discovery," said Prof Tim Flannery, a prominent Australian scientist best known for his 2005 The Weather Makers book about climate change.

From BBC ● Mar. 6, 2026

Yet while it shares many of the same lethal genes, Bisgaard taxon 45 is a separate species.

From National Geographic ● Dec. 5, 2023

Crucially they found a potential cause - a bacterium called Bisgaard taxon 45 - in six of the animals.

From BBC ● Oct. 25, 2023

Further examination by veterinarians and scientists identified a septicaemic infection caused by a by a little-known bacteria provisionally named Bisgaard taxon 45, an unclassified member the of Pasteurellaceae bacterial family, in six elephants.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 24, 2023

An abbreviated synonymy, in which are listed all combinations and emendations of names and significant contributions to our knowledge of the taxon, is given for each.

From A Taxonomic Revision of the Leptodactylid Frog Genus Syrrhophus Cope by John D. Lynch

"I think our work highlights why and how biologists can bring their human biases to all aspects of biology, which should be of concern for biologists, regardless of their study taxa, moving forward."

From Salon ● Apr. 23, 2025

I think our work highlights why and how biologists can bring their human biases to all aspects of biology, which should be of concern for biologists, regardless of their study taxa, moving forward.

From Salon ● Apr. 23, 2025

Next, they attributed these to ancient taxa based on their size, shape, and contents.

From Science Magazine ● Nov. 27, 2024

Meanwhile, at Pfrontener Platz, a space with lawns, bushes and trees, they found 156 taxa, including 21 different kinds of birds.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 15, 2024

Thus, due to Cochran and Goin's confusion of two taxa, their comparisons of certain specimens with types has little meaning.

From A Synopsis of Neotropical Hylid Frogs, Genus Osteocephalus by William E. Duellman