English

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Examples

In Cannabis sativa, the word sativa is the specific epithet.

Noun

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specific epithet (plural specific epithets)

  1. (taxonomy) The second (uncapitalized) word in the scientific name of a species, following the name of the genus.
    Synonym: species epithet
    Hypernyms: epithet, < name, < word, < term
    Holonyms: species name (the binomial unit), binominal name, binomial name
    Coordinate terms: specific name (the equivalent in zoology); subspecific epithet; genus name

Usage notes

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  • The term specific epithet usually refers to the second element in the formal name of a plant, fungus, or bacterium. The corresponding element in the formal name of an animal is normally called its specific name.

Translations

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See also

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