What does binominal mean?
"Binominal" is a formal adjective describing something composed of two names or terms. Its dominant use today is in biology, where it refers to the binominal — more commonly called binomial — system of nomenclature established by Carl Linnaeus in the eighteenth century, under which every species receives a two-part scientific name: a genus name followed by a specific epithet, as in Homo sapiens. The word derives from Latin elements meaning "two" and "name," mirroring its function precisely. Though accurate and historically well attested, binominal is now largely superseded by binomial in general and scientific usage, so readers are likeliest to meet it in older taxonomic texts, formal codes of nomenclature, or discussions of naming conventions. It carries a scholarly, technical connotation and is rarely used outside contexts involving classification or terminology. For writers, binominal remains a precise, if slightly old-fashioned, way to signal that something is named with exactly two terms.
adjectiveHaving or consisting of two names or terms; used especially of the two-part scientific naming system in which each species is designated by a genus name and a specific epithet.
- Consisting of or involving two names or terms, especially of species names formed from a genus name plus a specific epithet.
- Relating to or based on two names or terms generally.
"The binominal system introduced by Linnaeus gives every species a two-word Latin name."
"Every animal and plant is assigned a binominal designation under the rules of zoological nomenclature."
"The student learned to write each binominal label with the genus capitalized and the species lowercase."
Before Linnaeus, a species might carry a string of descriptive words; his binominal system cut it down to just two — and taxonomy has never looked back.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of binominal
"Binominal" comes from New Latin, combining the prefix "bi-" (from Latin bis, meaning "twice" or "two") with "nominal," from Latin nomen, meaning "name." It entered English usage in scientific writing to describe the Linnaean practice of giving each species a two-word name. Its closest cognate, "binomial," shares the same roots and has since become the preferred term, while related forms such as "binomen" preserve the Latin compound directly.
Related word forms
How binominal is actually used
Formal and chiefly technical, appearing almost exclusively in biological taxonomy and nomenclatural literature. In everyday and even most modern scientific writing, the synonym 'binomial' is now far more common; some style guides treat 'binominal' as an older variant.
Easily confused with binominal
In modern scientific usage 'binomial' has largely displaced 'binominal' as the standard term for two-part names, though both share the same meaning and etymology.