threatened species: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Formal, academic, journalistic
Quick answer
What does “threatened species” mean?
A species at risk of extinction in the near future due to factors like habitat loss, climate change, or human activity.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A species at risk of extinction in the near future due to factors like habitat loss, climate change, or human activity.
A biological classification indicating a species is vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered according to official conservation assessments like the IUCN Red List.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is identical in meaning and frequency. The phrase is standard in both varieties.
Connotations
Carries strong environmental and ethical connotations in both cultures.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in UK media due to stronger public engagement with organizations like the RSPB and WWF-UK.
Grammar
How to Use “threatened species” in a Sentence
[verb] + threatened species: protect, conserve, identify, list, classify, savethreatened species + [verb]: face extinction, decline, recover, survivethreatened species + [preposition]: of (threatened species of bird), in (threatened species in the region)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “threatened species” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The charity works to protect several threatened species found in the Scottish Highlands.
American English
- The new legislation aims to recover threatened species across federal lands.
adjective
British English
- The threatened species status of the Scottish wildcat has sparked a new conservation initiative.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) reports and sustainable investment contexts.
Academic
Central term in conservation biology, ecology, and environmental science papers.
Everyday
Used in news reports about wildlife and environmental campaigns.
Technical
Precise classification within frameworks like the IUCN Red List (Vulnerable, Endangered, Critically Endangered).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “threatened species”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “threatened species”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “threatened species”
- Using 'endangered species' interchangeably, though 'endangered' is a more severe sub-category of 'threatened'. Pluralizing 'species' incorrectly (species is both singular and plural).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Threatened' is a broader category that includes species at risk of extinction. 'Endangered' is a more severe sub-category within 'threatened', meaning the species faces a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
Yes, absolutely. The term applies to any biological species – animals, plants, fungi, etc. – that meets the criteria for being at risk.
Scientific bodies like the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) provide global assessments. Individual countries or states also have their own official lists (e.g., the U.S. Endangered Species Act list).
Yes, that is a very common and correct collocation. The pattern is 'threatened species of + [animal/plant type]'.
A species at risk of extinction in the near future due to factors like habitat loss, climate change, or human activity.
Threatened species is usually formal, academic, journalistic in register.
Threatened species: in British English it is pronounced /ˈθretnd ˈspiːʃiːz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈθretnd ˈspiːʃiːz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “on the threatened list”
- “red-listed species”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a species with a dark cloud (a threat) hanging over it. 'Threatened' sounds like 'thread ended' – think of the thread of life for that species being nearly cut.
Conceptual Metaphor
A SPECIES IS A PATIENT (needing protection, care, and recovery plans).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the most accurate definition of a 'threatened species'?