easy
The monarch butterfly is one species of insect.
What does Species mean?
A species is a kind of living thing grouped by shared biological characteristics; species is also the plural form.
Dictionary definition
Species can mean a kind or type of thing. In biology, a species is a named classification group whose members share important characteristics and ancestry; for many sexually reproducing organisms, members can normally reproduce with one another and have fertile offspring. Species is both singular and plural.
Example sentences
Species in a sentence
medium
Several frog species live in the wetland.
hard
Scientists compare genes, body features, behavior, and reproduction when deciding whether organisms belong to the same species.
hard
That puzzle is a different species of challenge from the one we solved yesterday.
Writing practice
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Quick practice
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Practice the meaning of Species
Answer three quick questions about its meaning and related words.
Question 1 of 3
Practice 1
What does species mean in biology?
Species is a biological classification group, although scientists use several kinds of evidence to define its boundaries.
Practice 2
Which sentence uses the plural of species correctly?
Species has the same spelling in the singular and plural.
Practice 3
Which statement is most accurate?
Genes, ancestry, form, behavior, and reproduction can all help scientists classify species.
Practice complete
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Pronunciation coach
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Species
Voice settings
Sounds like
spee · sheez or spee · seez · strongest beat: spee
Tap each sound part, then blend the whole word together.
Learn
WordSpecies.
Partnoun.
MeaningSpecies means A species is a kind of living thing grouped by shared biological characteristics; species is also the plural form.
ExampleExample: The monarch butterfly is one species of insect.
Word breakdown
3 syllables. Say each part, then blend the word.
- Syllables
- spee · sheez or spee · seez
- Strongest beat
- spee
- Ending
- seez
- Tip
- Put a little extra energy on spee.
Your turn
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Synonyms
Words like Species
Antonym review
Does Species have an opposite?
Species has no direct antonym. Individual, genus, and population name connected levels or units, not opposites.
Synonym practice
Want to practice species synonyms in context? Try a Synonym Search question like "A frog is one species of animal," then compare close word choices. Practice species synonyms.
Word family
Species word family
Base word
species
noun
speciation
The process through which new species form.
verb
speciate
To develop into separate species; a technical biology verb.
noun
subspecies
A named group within a species, often linked to geography or distinct traits.
Related words
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Student support
Understand Species
Hint for students
Think of species as a precise biological group, not simply any collection that looks alike; check the sentence to see whether the word is singular or plural.
Common mix-up
Do not write specieses for the plural. One species and several species use the same spelling, and the ability to interbreed is not a universal test for fossils or organisms that reproduce without mating.
Try it in class or at home
Students sort cards for individual organisms, populations, species, and genera. They justify each level using shared traits, ancestry, location, or reproduction evidence, then revise one appearance-only claim.
Teacher prompt
Compare two similar-looking organisms. What evidence besides appearance could scientists use to decide whether they belong to the same species?
Animal Classification Wheel
Compare animals with the Classification Vocabulary Wheel
Spin this researched animal vocabulary wheel to compare body groups, backbones, diets, predator-prey roles, and the evidence behind each classification.
Learning activities
Practice Species and explore more word games
Cards labelled “Practice SPECIES” keep this word in focus. Explore cards open games with other words.
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Sentence Builder
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Vocabulary Match
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Context Clue Challenge
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Synonym Search
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