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
Another species of this genus has not been discovered for 70 years, researchers said.
—
Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 18 June 2024
There is also a species of tree frog, a dung beetle and a genus of dinosaurs named after the character.
—Taylor Nicioli, CNN, 13 June 2024
Both fall-blooming Japanese anemones and bulb-type anemones are part of the Anemone genus, whereas bush anemones are in the Carpenteria genus.
—Viveka Neveln, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 May 2024
The bacteria that causes it—spirochete bacteria of the genus Leptospira—infect rats, which shed the bacteria in their urine.
—Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 17 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for genus 
Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 18 June 2024
There is also a species of tree frog, a dung beetle and a genus of dinosaurs named after the character.
—Taylor Nicioli, CNN, 13 June 2024
Both fall-blooming Japanese anemones and bulb-type anemones are part of the Anemone genus, whereas bush anemones are in the Carpenteria genus.
—Viveka Neveln, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 May 2024
The bacteria that causes it—spirochete bacteria of the genus Leptospira—infect rats, which shed the bacteria in their urine.
—Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 17 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for genus
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.
Dictionary Entries Near genus
Cite this Entry
“Genus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/genus. Accessed 4 Jul. 2024.
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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
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