endangered species

Noun

endangered species (plural endangered species)

1. A species which is in danger of becoming extinct throughout all or a significant portion of its range.
   • The federal government has added five more birds to the endangered species list.
   • This project involves construction of a railway crossing for wild hazel dormice on the Furness line (Lancashire), in a bid to save the endangered species from extinction, and it will be the first of its kind on the railway.2022 February 23, Daisy Chapman-Chamberlain, “Ground-breaking rail innovation goes international”, in RAIL, number 951, page 35
2. A class or kind whose continued existence is threatened.
   • Since the Industrial Revolution in the 18th century, the division of labor has brought forth specialization in the workforce and university curriculums. The endangered species of polymaths is facing extinction.2014, “About the Book”, in Newton Lee, editor, Digital Da Vinci: Computers in Music, Springer, page vii

   Synonyms:

   dying breed