Africanthropus

noun

Af·​ri·​can·​thro·​pus

ˌa-frə-ˈkan(t)-thrə-pəs,

-ˌkan-ˈthrō-pəs

in former classifications

: a genus of extinct Pleistocene hominids known from several skull fragments found near Lake Eyasi in Tanzania and now typically regarded as an early type of Homo sapiens

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Africa + -anthropus (as in Pithecanthropus)

First Known Use

1938, in the meaning defined above

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!