Definition

A category in biology that groups together species with similar characteristics, ranking between family and species.

Example

The lion and the tiger belong to the same genus called Panthera.

Conversation

Did you know that the genus of dolphins is Delphinus?

No way, I had no idea!

Yeah, and there are several species within that genus too.

That's really interesting! I love learning about animal classifications.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Genus → It comes from Latin 'genus' (meaning kind, type, or race). The word 'genus' refers to a class or group of things that share common characteristics, thus indicating a type or category.

Memory Tip

Think of 'genus' as a way to categorize things into a 'kind' or 'type' — it helps you remember that it refers to a classification.

Visually Confused Words