hominin

noun

hom·​i·​nin ˈhä-mə-nən 

-ˌnin

: any of a taxonomic tribe (Hominini) of hominids that includes recent humans together with extinct ancestral and related forms

Examples of hominin in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This theory, as a 2015 study from the Journal of Anatomy describes, surrounds the fact that as Homo sapiens emerged, their faces became smaller and flatter over time, as compared to earlier hominins. —Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 24 Jan. 2026

The pelvic fragment found with the new skeleton suggests the species might have been able to walk more upright than earlier hominins, Mongle says. —K. R. Callaway, Scientific American, 23 Jan. 2026

That's significant because tracking and capturing an intelligent, agile, and fast animal like a monkey would have required advanced hunting skills not normally attributed to early hominins. —New Atlas, 8 Jan. 2026

Until now, the main hominin fossils from around that time period were found in Atapuerca, Spain. —CBS News, 8 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

New Latin Hominini, from Homin-, Homo + -ini, tribe suffix, from Latin -inus -ine entry 1

First Known Use

1989, in the meaning defined above