Meanings
nounbasionym (plural basionyms)
plural basionyms · alternative basonym
- biologyAn earlier valid scientific name of a species that has since been renamed and from which the new name is partially derived.
Arundinaria distans is the basionym of Colanthelia distans.
Synonyms & antonyms
nounan original scientific name on which the modern name is based
Broader
Also see
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
From basi- (“base”) + -onym (“name”).
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Catalan basiònim
- basiòniman earlier name of a species that has since been given a derived name
Dutch basioniem
- basionieman earlier name of a species that has since been given a derived name
French basionyme
- basionymean earlier name of a species that has since been given a derived name
Italian basionimo
- basionimoan earlier name of a species that has since been given a derived name
Latin basionymus
- basionymusan earlier name of a species that has since been given a derived name
Spanish basiónimo, basónimo
- basiónimoan earlier name of a species that has since been given a derived name
- basónimoan earlier name of a species that has since been given a derived name
Cite this entry
APA
basionym. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/basionym
MLA
“basionym.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/basionym. Accessed November 3, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “basionym,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/basionym.
Source: basionym on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.