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
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
But modern, cold-adapted, dam-building beavers of the genus Castor appear to have evolved roughly 12 million years ago, perhaps in response to cooling temperatures.
—
Literary Hub, 19 Sep. 2025
As of this year, Acción Andina has restored roughly 5,000 hectares of fragile mountain forests with more than 12 million native and endangered trees – mainly of Polylepis, a genus of 28 shrub and tree species that thrives in the thin air of the Andes by capturing moisture from clouds and fog.
—Eduardo Garcia, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
To the untrained eye, researchers said the skull resembles the bones of a goat or horse, leading to the team naming the genus after animal sacrifices.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 17 Sep. 2025
Psilocybin comes from several mushroom species, including some in the genus.
—Allison Parshall, Scientific American, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for genus
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Literary Hub, 19 Sep. 2025
As of this year, Acción Andina has restored roughly 5,000 hectares of fragile mountain forests with more than 12 million native and endangered trees – mainly of Polylepis, a genus of 28 shrub and tree species that thrives in the thin air of the Andes by capturing moisture from clouds and fog.
—Eduardo Garcia, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
To the untrained eye, researchers said the skull resembles the bones of a goat or horse, leading to the team naming the genus after animal sacrifices.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 17 Sep. 2025
Psilocybin comes from several mushroom species, including some in the genus.
—Allison Parshall, Scientific American, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for genus
Cite this Entry
“Genus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/genus. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.
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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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