Species
noun
Definition
1. (noun) A group of living things — animals, plants, or other organisms — that share the same key characteristics and can naturally reproduce with each other.
2. (noun) Informally, a particular type or kind of person or thing, often used with humour to describe someone as unusually distinct.
2. (noun) Informally, a particular type or kind of person or thing, often used with humour to describe someone as unusually distinct.
Context Alive
You're watching a nature documentary and the narrator says scientists have just confirmed a new species of deep-sea octopus that had never been recorded before. The camera shows it moving through the dark water — it looks completely unlike anything you've seen. You sit up and turn the volume up. By the end of the segment you're on your phone looking for photos.
Meanings
2 meanings 1 A Category of Living Things (Noun) Very Common ▼
This meaning is about the basic unit scientists use to classify living things. Imagine you're reading about a wildlife campaign — the article explains that a particular species of tiger is now critically endangered, with fewer than 400 individuals left in the wild. This is describing a specific, officially recognised group of animals that share the same genetic make-up and can reproduce with each other. You might say "a new species of bird was discovered" when scientists officially name it for the first time, or someone could say "invasive species are destroying the ecosystem" to describe non-native animals or plants causing damage. Or think about a biology class where you learn that dogs and wolves are actually separate species even though they share a common ancestor and look similar. The word points to a precise, formal category — not just a vague type.
✏️ Species is both singular and plural — the form never changes: "one species", "three species." Never say "specieses." It appears constantly in nature documentaries, science news, and conservation articles. The most common collocations are endangered species, invasive species, native species, and extinct species.
2 A Particular Type of Person or Thing (Informal, Noun) Common ▼
This meaning is about using the word loosely and often with humour to describe a category of person or thing. Imagine someone describing their manager as "a rare species of boss who actually listens" — they're not talking about biology, they're saying their boss belongs to an unusually distinct category that most people never encounter. This is describing someone or something as a unique type that stands apart from the rest. You might hear "he's a different species of stubborn" to mean he's more stubborn than anyone you've ever met, or someone could say "that's a species of humour I just don't get" to describe a style that doesn't click with them. Or think about someone jokingly calling a very early-rising person "a morning species" that the rest of us simply can't relate to. The word adds a playful, slightly scientific tone to what would otherwise be a plain description.
✏️ This informal use works because it borrows the scientific precision of species and applies it to human behaviour or personality. The joke is that the person is so distinct they might as well be a separate life form. It's common in casual conversation and writing, and almost always carries a light, ironic tone.
Common Patterns
Basic Structures
a species of + noun → specifies what type of animal, plant, or organism belongs to the group
They found a new species of frog living near the riverbank.
an endangered / rare / invasive species → common adjective combinations describing conservation status or origin
The government passed new laws to protect an endangered species of sea turtle.
species + verb (survive / evolve / disappear) → used when talking about what a group of organisms does over time
Some species adapt quickly to climate change while others can't survive.
Common Structures
a new species (of) → used when scientists officially identify and name a previously unknown organism
Researchers announced the discovery of a new species of beetle in the rainforest.
the human species → referring to all people as one biological group, especially in philosophical or environmental contexts
If we don't act, the human species will face consequences it can't reverse.
a rare / different species of [noun] → informal — describing a person or thing as an unusual type
She's a rare species of manager — one who actually remembers your name.
Collocations
10 collocationsendangered species
a group of animals or plants at serious risk of extinction
invasive species
a non-native organism that spreads aggressively and harms local ecosystems
native species
an organism that naturally belongs to a particular area or habitat
rare species
a type of living thing that exists in very small numbers
new species
a type of organism recently identified and officially named by scientists
protected species
an animal or plant legally shielded from hunting, trade, or harm
extinct species
a group of organisms that no longer exists anywhere on Earth
species of bird / fish / plant
used to specify which category of living thing is being discussed
human species
all humans considered as a single biological group
species diversity
the range and variety of different species within an ecosystem or region
Example Sentences
10 examples
1
Scientists have discovered a new species of frog deep in the Amazon rainforest.
Researchers found a previously unknown type of frog living in the depths of the Amazon.
2
The giant panda is one of the most well-known endangered species in the world.
Giant pandas are among the most famous animals at serious risk of dying out.
3
Humans are the only species known to use complex language and build cities.
No other type of living creature uses advanced language or constructs large urban settlements.
4
Climate change is pushing dozens of species that depend on cold environments toward extinction.
Rising temperatures are putting many animals and plants that need cold habitats at serious risk of disappearing.
5
The national park was created to protect a rare species of butterfly found only in this valley.
The nature reserve was established to preserve an uncommon butterfly that exists nowhere else in the world.
6
Invasive species can devastate local ecosystems by outcompeting plants and animals that evolved there.
Non-native organisms that spread aggressively can destroy local environments by pushing out the wildlife that naturally belongs there.
7
Over a hundred species have gone extinct since the start of the industrial revolution.
More than a hundred types of animals and plants have completely disappeared since industrialisation began.
8
Biologists classify every living thing into a species based on shared physical and genetic traits.
Scientists sort all organisms into groups based on the features and genetic information they have in common.
9
She joked that her upstairs neighbour was a unique species of human who never slept.
She laughed that the person living above her was a completely distinct type of person who seemed to be awake at all hours.
10
The documentary explored how reintroducing a single species of wolf reshaped an entire river ecosystem.
The film showed how bringing one type of wolf back to the wild completely transformed the rivers and landscape around it.
Synonyms & Antonyms
6 items
Synonymstype
more general and informal — can refer to anything, not just living organisms
kind
similarly broad — used in everyday speech for any category of thing
genus
more technical — the biological level above species, grouping related species together
Antonymsindividual
a single organism, as opposed to the entire group or category it belongs to
hybrid
an organism produced by crossing two different species — it sits outside either parent category
subspecies
a subdivision within a species — less distinct than a fully separate species