bipedalism

noun

bi·​ped·​al·​ism (ˌ)bī-ˈpe-dᵊl-ˌi-zəm How to pronounce bipedalism (audio)
: the condition of having two feet or of using only two feet for locomotion

Examples of bipedalism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web But scientists have long debated the extent of her bipedalism. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 13 June 2023 Humanity’s early ancestors started dabbling with bipedalism — walking on two legs — as much as 6 to 7 million years ago. Stephen C. George, Discover Magazine, 29 Nov. 2023 One of the most obvious adaptations that separates humans from our close genetic relatives is bipedalism. Conor Feehly, Discover Magazine, 11 Oct. 2023 Kevin Hunt, a professor of anthropology at Indiana University who studies human evolution, believes bipedalism likely evolved gradually, over a million years or so. Jeff Goodell, Time, 6 July 2023 In our human ancestors, the evolution of the sweat gland is even more complex than the evolution of bipedalism. Jeff Goodell, Time, 6 July 2023 The ability to move around on two legs, known as bipedalism, is a defining feature of modern humans. Han Yu, WSJ, 2 June 2023 In fact, by observing the chimpanzees living in the thin, patchy forests of Tanzania’s Issa Valley, Stewart and a team could investigate whether the openness of the ancient terrain brought on the transition to bipedalism among our ancestors. Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 16 Dec. 2022 The findings contrast with a prevailing theory about human bipedalism—walking on two feet—known as the savanna hypothesis. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Dec. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bipedalism.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1847, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bipedalism was in 1847

Dictionary Entries Near bipedalism

Cite this Entry

“Bipedalism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bipedalism. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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