Meanings
nounspecific epithet (plural specific epithets)
plural specific epithets
- biologyThe second (uncapitalized) word in the scientific name of a species, following the name of the genus.
Holonyms: species name (the binomial unit), binominal name, binomial name
Synonyms: species epithet
Synonyms & antonyms
nounThe second (uncapitalized) word in the scientific name of a species, following the name of the genus.
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Also see
Translations
Chinese Mandarin 種名 /种名
- 種名 /种名(taxonomy) second word in the scientific name of a species
Finnish lajiosa
- lajiosa(taxonomy) second word in the scientific name of a species
French épithète spécifique
- épithète spécifique(taxonomy) second word in the scientific name of a species
German Artbeiname, Artname
- Artbeiname(taxonomy) second word in the scientific name of a species
- Artname(taxonomy) second word in the scientific name of a species
- Artzusatz(taxonomy) second word in the scientific name of a species
- Artepitheton n/Art-Epitheton(taxonomy) second word in the scientific name of a species
- spezifisches Epitheton(taxonomy) second word in the scientific name of a species
- Speciesbeiname(taxonomy) second word in the scientific name of a species
- Speciesname(taxonomy) second word in the scientific name of a species
- Artepithet(taxonomy) second word in the scientific name of a species
Japanese 種小名
- 種小名 (shushōmei)(taxonomy) second word in the scientific name of a species
Polish nazwa gatunkowa
- nazwa gatunkowa(taxonomy) second word in the scientific name of a species
Portuguese epiteto específico
- epiteto específico(taxonomy) second word in the scientific name of a species
Romanian epitet specific
- epitet specific(taxonomy) second word in the scientific name of a species
Cite this entry
APA
specific epithet. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/specific%20epithet
MLA
“specific epithet.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/specific%20epithet. Accessed November 3, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “specific epithet,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/specific%20epithet.
Source: specific epithet on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.