What’s the plural of “genus”?
Genus refers to the kinds or classes of things, specifically used in the biological sense of scientific names given to organisms. A genus is the name that “animals, plants, etc. that have similar characteristics are divided, [genera/genuses] are smaller than a family and larger than a species”. An example is the genus Canis (which is Latin for “dog”). The genus Canis includes “multiple species, such as wolves, dogs, coyotes, and golden jackals“.
This genus includes several different species.
The study identified many different genera within the family.
These genus are difficult to distinguish.
A new genera was recently discovered.
The plural of genus can be genuses or genera. If this sounds confusing, don’t be so easily deceived. The reason why the noun genus has two accepted plurals is quite simple: genus comes from the Latin word of the same form, (meaning “race, stock, kind; family, birth, descent, origin”) and genera is its original Latin plural.
This is the standard Latin suffix for plural nouns (that end in -us as a singular, e.g., alumnus, stimulus etc.). Genuses as a plural would have evolved eventually, which it has. That’s it. That’s the story on why genuses is also a correct and commonly used plural today (it’s just not the original).
What’s the singular of genus?
Genus is singular. Genera and genuses are plural.
What does the word genus mean?
According to Britannica, the word genus is understood as,
A biological classification ranking between family and species, consisting of structurally or phylogenetically related species or a single isolated species exhibiting unusual differentiation (monotypic genus).”
Other Latin nouns in English
| singular | plural |
|---|---|
| genus | genera or genuses |
| criterion | criteria |
| bacterion | bacteria |
| medium | media |
| datum | data |
| spectrum | spectra or spectrums |
The plural of “genus” is “genera,” think of biology GENERAting new species.
Examples of the word genus used in sentences
1. The genus is associated with one long extinct in Europe.
2. By early writers the word was generally given as an equivalent of the Linnaean Loxia, but that genus has been found to include many forms not now placed in the same family.
3. One cast, genus unknown, perhaps a Cardium
4. Because it represents the group, the genus is the first part of an animal’s scientific name. ·
5. Flavivirus is a genus of the family Flaviviridae.
Examples of genera/genuses used in application
1. It is made up of three genera.
2. All 9 genera and 14 species have been reported from non-serranids.
3. The family comprises two genera.
4. He easily won the substantial cash prize by naming correctly all the genera of whitespored mushrooms.
5. The abundance of members of the different genera differed markedly.
Origin of the word genus
From etymology online on genus (n.):
(Latin plural genera), 1550s as a term of logic, “kind or class of things” (biological sense dates from c. 1600), from Latin genus (genitive generis) “race, stock, kind; family, birth, descent, origin”.
Read more about nouns
| Types of nouns | What’s the plural of …? |
|---|---|
| plural-only nouns | …moose? |
| mass nouns | …octopus? |
| collective nouns | …cactus? |
| abstract nouns vs. concrete nouns | …analysis? |
| possessive nouns | …curriculum? |
| regular and irregular nouns | …crisis? |
Work Sheet
What are the accepted plural form(s) of “genus” according to the post?
Which of the following is the original Latin plural form of “genus”?
In biological classification, a genus is described as ranking between which two levels?
Which of the following words is the singular form?
According to the Usage Note in the post, which of these sentences demonstrates an incorrect usage?
The scientists discovered a new of plant in the rainforest.
The research project focused on studying several different within the primate family.
The exhibit displayed examples from many different animal from around the world.
The post notes that using “” when a plural is required is a common mistake.
Like “genus/genera”, the plural form of “datum” is ““.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the plural of genus?
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Are both genuses and genera correct?
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Why does genus have two plurals?
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What is the singular form of genera?
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How is genus used in science?
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Yash, D. "What’s the Plural of Genus?." Grammarflex, Jun 3, 2025, https://www.grammarflex.com/whats-the-plural-of-genus/.
Sources
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Definition of genus.
