scientific name

[sahy-uhn-tif-ik naym] / ˈsaɪ ənˌtɪf ɪk ˈneɪm /

NOUN

genus and species epithet

Synonyms

WEAK

binomen binomial name binomial nomenclature scientific epithet taxonomic name trinomen trinomial name

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Lunar regolith is the scientific name for the dusty material that covers the Moon's surface.

From Science Daily • Mar. 12, 2026

The greater flamingo, or Phoenicopterus roseus to use its scientific name, is listed as a threatened species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

From BBC • Feb. 10, 2025

When researchers discovered a gecko that reminded them of the paintings of van Gogh, they gave it the scientific name Cnemaspis vangoghi.

From Salon • Sep. 20, 2024

The proposed scientific name for the resident northern population is Patagona chaski.

From Science Daily • May 13, 2024

The scientific name for the “corn” that was cultivated in the Americas is Zea mays.

From "An Indigenous People’s History of the United States" by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz