- (of a plant or animal species) inclined to be threatened with extinction but not yet qualified as vulnerable, which is the entry level of the three categories of threatened species, as categorized by the IUCN Red List: near threatened species are regularly reevaluated, as an amended classification up to the level of vulnerable is always a possibility: The list of near threatened orthopterous insects includes several cave crickets and swallowtail butterflies.Abbreviation: NT
