The term 'rare biosphere' is often used to describe microbial communities that contain low-abundance organisms that are not commonly found in an environment. Synonyms for this term include 'low-abundance species', 'minority populations', 'low-frequency taxa', and 'less-common microorganisms'. Each of these terms implies that the microbial community contains species that are not present in high numbers and are less frequently observed than the dominant populations. The use of these synonyms is important in highlighting the diversity and complexity of microbial communities, as well as the need for more comprehensive sampling techniques and analytical methods to fully understand the composition and roles of these communities in different environments.