Genus
/ˈdʒiː.nəs/noun
A principal taxonomic category that ranks above species and below family.
Did you know?The term 'genus' derives from the same root as 'generate' and 'genetic', revealing a deep connection to creation and lineage in the natural world.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*génə-
“to give birth, beget, or produce.”
Latin
Latin
genus
“birth, kind, or race; a class or category.”
Old French
Old French
genus
“kind, type, or class.”
Middle English
Middle English
genus
“a class or category of things.”
Modern English
English
genus
“a taxonomic category ranking above species.”