geslacht

Geslacht is a Dutch noun with several related meanings in biology, taxonomy, and genealogy. Depending on context, it can refer to the biological category of a person or animal, a taxonomic rank, or a line of descent within a family. The word is used in science, history, and everyday language.

In biology, geslacht can denote biological sex or, in some contexts, gender as a social identity. To emphasize biology, speakers use biologisch geslacht or sekse; to discuss social identity, Dutch often uses gender or genderidentiteit. The distinction is not always exact in ordinary speech, and context usually clarifies the intended meaning.

In taxonomy, geslacht is the rank of genus. A genus groups one or more closely related species. For example, het geslacht Homo includes Homo sapiens and related extinct species. This usage is standard in scientific naming and classification.

In genealogy and historical writing, geslacht denotes a family line or dynasty—an ancestral lineage across generations. Phrases such as het geslacht Oranje or een oud geslacht reflect this sense and appear in discussions of nobility, inheritance, and lineage.

The plural is geslachten. The word derives from the sense of descent and kinship, and it remains common in scientific, historical, and cultural contexts.