specific epithet

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

• 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.

• genus name
• species name