plural genera ˈje-nə-rə 
also genuses
also genuses
1
: a class, kind, or group marked by common characteristics or by one common characteristic
specifically : a category of biological classification ranking between the family and the species, comprising structurally or phylogenetically (see phylogenetic sense 2) related species or an isolated species exhibiting unusual differentiation, and being designated by a Latin or latinized capitalized singular noun
2
: a class of objects divided into several subordinate species
Synonyms
Examples of genus in a Sentence
the crime novel, written from the criminal's perspective, is sometimes seen as a particular species of the detective story genus
Recent Examples on the Web The American counterpart to the Tsetse fly, which causes African sleeping sickness, kissing bugs bear a parasite from the same genus (Trypanosoma) in their feces. —
Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 29 Feb. 2024 Full sun Soil Type: Well-draining Soil pH: 5.5-6.5 (slightly acidic) Salvia is a huge genus of plants that includes annuals like scarlet sage and perennials like Russian sage; some start to bloom in spring and others later in summer. —Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 14 Feb. 2024 Onions, garlic, leeks and chives all belong to the plant genus Allium and are dangerous for dogs and cats, says Diana Watkins, a veterinarian and owner of 143 Veterinary Services in Cohasset, Massachusetts. —Clare Mulroy, USA TODAY, 29 Jan. 2024 The allium family, which onions are a part of, is a genus of pungent plants ranging from garlic to green onions to white onions and beyond. —Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Nov. 2023 The northernmost outpost for the Sophora genus is in Hawaiʻi, where Sophora chrysophylla is the primary food source for the palila, a critically endangered honeycreeper. —Daniel Lewis, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 Mar. 2024 Researchers had an ambitious goal: document every species of the Trachylepis lizard genus in Angola, the study said. —Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 29 Feb. 2024 Strain: Probiotics are classified by their strain, which includes the genus, species, subspecies (in some cases), and a series of letters and numbers similar to a zip code to specify them further. —Shushy Rita Setrakian Ms, Verywell Health, 21 Feb. 2024 There are about 20 species in the Erythronium genus, most of them native to western North America but there are also some that are native to eastern North America and Eurasia. —Nadia Hassani, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 Jan. 2024
Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 29 Feb. 2024 Full sun Soil Type: Well-draining Soil pH: 5.5-6.5 (slightly acidic) Salvia is a huge genus of plants that includes annuals like scarlet sage and perennials like Russian sage; some start to bloom in spring and others later in summer. —Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 14 Feb. 2024 Onions, garlic, leeks and chives all belong to the plant genus Allium and are dangerous for dogs and cats, says Diana Watkins, a veterinarian and owner of 143 Veterinary Services in Cohasset, Massachusetts. —Clare Mulroy, USA TODAY, 29 Jan. 2024 The allium family, which onions are a part of, is a genus of pungent plants ranging from garlic to green onions to white onions and beyond. —Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Nov. 2023 The northernmost outpost for the Sophora genus is in Hawaiʻi, where Sophora chrysophylla is the primary food source for the palila, a critically endangered honeycreeper. —Daniel Lewis, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 Mar. 2024 Researchers had an ambitious goal: document every species of the Trachylepis lizard genus in Angola, the study said. —Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 29 Feb. 2024 Strain: Probiotics are classified by their strain, which includes the genus, species, subspecies (in some cases), and a series of letters and numbers similar to a zip code to specify them further. —Shushy Rita Setrakian Ms, Verywell Health, 21 Feb. 2024 There are about 20 species in the Erythronium genus, most of them native to western North America but there are also some that are native to eastern North America and Eurasia. —Nadia Hassani, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 Jan. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'genus.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Phrases Containing genus
Dictionary Entries Near genus
Cite this Entry
“Genus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/genus. Accessed 15 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
Medical Definition
plural genera ˈjen-ə-rə
: a class, kind, or group marked by common characteristics or by one common characteristic
specifically : a category of biological classification ranking between the family and the species, comprising structurally or phylogenetically related species or an isolated species exhibiting unusual differentiation, and designated by a Latin or latinized capitalized singular noun
More from Merriam-Webster on genus
Nglish: Translation of genus for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of genus for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about genus
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share