threatened species

American  

[thret-nd spee-sheez, spee-seez] / ˈθrɛt nd ˈspi ʃiz, ˈspi siz /

noun

Biology, Ecology.

1. a plant or animal species generally perceived as likely, in the near future, to become endangered within all or much of its range.

   The drainage of this wetland promises to leave us with a number of threatened species.

2. a plant or animal species that has been categorized by the IUCN Red List as vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered.

   In evaluating the conservation status of this threatened species, we must follow closely the population growth rate.

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Compare meaning

How does threatened-species compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• endangered vs. threatened species

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

threatened species

It set 23 targets for halting and reversing nature loss by 2030, including reducing pollution, protecting threatened species and conserving 30 percent of the world's land and oceans.

From Barron's ● Oct. 12, 2026

Among the flowers were several threatened species, adding ecological significance to the seasonal spectacle.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 12, 2026

And catching bird flu can push our most threatened species, such as the orange-bellied parrot, to the brink of extinction.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 24, 2026

This team's efforts have seen them scratched off the international red list of threatened species - a rare glimmer of hope in a country facing an extinction emergency.

From BBC ● Aug. 8, 2026

Zoos are conducting similar breeding programs for many other threatened species, including gorillas and rhinos.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond

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