sapiens

adjective

sa·​pi·​ens ˈsa-pē-ənz 

ˈsā-, 

-ˌenz

: of, relating to, or being recent humans (Homo sapiens) as distinguished from various fossil hominids

Examples of sapiens in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Homo naledi is an extinct cousin of our species, Homo sapiens. — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 24 June 2026

And this story begins not with Homo sapiens but with our distant ancestors. — Literary Hub, 1 May 2026

But within that 500 million, the overwhelmingly safe bet is to say that intelligence will evolve if Homo sapiens were to vanish overnight. — Big Think, 29 Oct. 2025

The remaining challenge, however, was to identify these fossils as clearly being Homo sapiens. — Ben Panko, Smithsonian, 8 June 2017

Word History

Etymology

New Latin (specific epithet of Homo sapiens), from Latin, present participle of sapere

First Known Use

1939, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing sapiens

• Homo sapiens

Medical Definition

sapiens

see homo sapiens