Meaning & use
Subspecies
Last updated
A taxonomic category ranking below a species, used to distinguish populations that differ in some characteristics but can still interbreed with other members of the species.
See it in a sentence
The Bengal tiger is classified as a subspecies distinct from the Siberian tiger.
Scientists identified a new subspecies of frog isolated on a single mountain ridge.
A note on using this word
Subspecies designations are often contested, since the line between a distinct subspecies and simple regional variation within a species can be genuinely unclear.
Words with a similar meaning
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “Subspecies”, then compare your use with the examples above.
Your draft stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.