dubia

Dubia is a Latin term that translates roughly to doubts. In Latin grammar, dubium (singular neuter) means a doubt or question, and dubia is its plural form. In English usage, the word appears most often in scholarly or ecclesiastical contexts, as well as in biology where Latin naming conventions are common.

In ecclesiastical and canonical usage, dubia refers to formal questions posed to a pope or bishop to obtain an authoritative interpretation of doctrine, discipline, or practice. Such questions are typically intended to clarify ambiguities in law or teaching and are sometimes discussed in relation to significant doctrinal or pastoral matters. The term gained notable public attention in discussions about Amoris Laetitia when cardinals submitted dubia requesting clarity.

In biology and taxonomy, dubia can describe uncertainty in classification. The term is used in phrases such as species dubia to denote species whose taxonomic placement is unresolved or doubtful due to insufficient or ambiguous evidence. It also appears as a species epithet in several organisms, indicating a perceived doubt about certain characteristics or classification at the time of naming.

A well-known use outside theory is the dubia roach, Blaptica dubia, a large South American cockroach commonly kept as a feeder insect for reptiles and other insectivores. Dubia roaches are valued in herpetology and pet-keeping communities for their ease of care, high protein content, and favorable breeding characteristics.