specific epithet

[ spi-sif-ik ep-uh-thet ]
/ spɪˈsɪf ɪk ˈɛp əˌθɛt /

noun Botany, Zoology.

(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.
Compare specific name.

Origin of specific epithet

First recorded in 1905–10

Words nearby specific epithet

specific action, specific activity, specific charge, specific conductance, specific dynamic action, specific epithet, specific gravity, specific heat, specific heat capacity, specific humidity, specific immune globulin