Neanderthal

noun

Ne·​an·​der·​thal nē-ˈan-dər-ˌtȯl How to pronounce Neanderthal (audio) -ˌthȯl How to pronounce Neanderthal (audio)
nā-ˈän-dər-ˌtäl
plural Neanderthals
1
or less commonly Neandertal
nē-ˈan-dər-ˌtȯl How to pronounce Neanderthal (audio)
nā-ˈän-dər-ˌtäl
or Neanderthal man or Neandertal man plural Neandertals or Neanderthal men or Neandertal men : a hominid (Homo neanderthalensis synonym H. sapiens neanderthalensis) known from skeletal remains in Europe, northern Africa, and western Asia that lived from about 30,000 to 200,000 years ago
2
: a person who suggests a caveman in appearance, mentality, or behavior
… heckled by a bunch of NeanderthalsBonitta Best
But the man is also not a Neanderthal. His mother was an English teacher, and her son quotes Henry David Thoreau …Seth Emerson
Neanderthal adjective
or less commonly Neandertal
Neanderthaloid
nē-ˈan-dər-ˌtȯ-ˌlȯid
-ˌthȯ- How to pronounce Neanderthal (audio)
nā-ˈän-dər-ˌtä-
adjective or noun

Examples of Neanderthal in a Sentence

I can't believe I was married to that Neanderthal for three years. Some Neanderthals continue to resist the education reform bill.
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Related article Comet likely last seen when Neanderthals walked Earth could soon dazzle in the night sky There are two full moons remaining for 2024 — the beaver moon, which is also a supermoon, on November 15 and the cold moon on December 15, according to the Farmers’ Almanac. Taylor Nicioli, CNN, 20 Oct. 2024 That isolation put Neanderthals at an evolutionary disadvantage and could have led to their demise. Ashley Strickland, CNN, 14 Sep. 2024 In 2015, archaeologists discovered the remains of a Neanderthal in a cave in southern France. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Sep. 2024 The Naked Neanderthal Before joining Discover Magazine, Paul spent over 20 years as a science journalist, specializing in U.S. life science policy and global scientific career issues. Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 11 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for Neanderthal 

Word History

Etymology

Neanderthal, valley in western Germany

First Known Use

1874, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of Neanderthal was in 1874

Dictionary Entries Near Neanderthal

Cite this Entry

“Neanderthal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Neanderthal. Accessed 7 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

Neanderthal

noun
Ne·​an·​der·​thal nē-ˈan-dər-ˌthȯl How to pronounce Neanderthal (audio) -ˌtȯl How to pronounce Neanderthal (audio)
nā-ˈän-dər-ˌtäl
1
or Neandertal
-ˌtȯl How to pronounce Neanderthal (audio)
-ˌtäl
: a primate mammal that belongs to the same family as human beings, lived from about 30,000 to 200,000 years ago, is known from skeletal remains in Europe, northern Africa, and western Asia, and is characterized especially by a stocky muscular build and prominent browridge

called also Neanderthal man

2
: one who suggests a caveman in appearance, behavior, or intelligence
Neanderthal adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on Neanderthal

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