specific epithet

[ spi-sif-ik ep-uh-thet ]

noun

, Botany, Zoology.

1. (in binomial nomenclature ) the second part, always lowercased, of a plant or animal species’ scientific name: for example, the species Quercus alba is an oak tree, as all oaks belong to the genus Quercus , but it is the specific epithet alba that identifies the particular species, which is the white oak.

Word History and Origins

Origin of specific epithet¹

First recorded in 1905–10

Example Sentences

But even when we know the genus, let’s graduate beyond “my hydrangea” to the other word in the Latin binomial, the species name or specific epithet that modifies it.

From New York Times

“The reason for this choice of name is to bring wider public attention to the need to continue protecting fragile habitats in the U.S. that still contain many undescribed species. The specific epithet is selected because of the resemblance of the scales… of the moth to Mr. Trump’s hairstyle.”

From Time

"We have named the new stick insect with the specific epithet "enigma" because its systematic position in the tree of life of stick and leaf insects remains a mystery," says Mr Gottardo.

From BBC

Let beauty in general be what it may, what is it that marks off this kind of beauty from others, and what is there peculiar in our state of mind when we are moved to apply to anything the specific epithet ‘sublime’?—such is our question.

From Project Gutenberg

Elsewhere, the dramatist seems to betray private suspicion of the normal woman's volitional capacity by applying to her heart and mind the specific epithet "waxen."

From Project Gutenberg