To save this word, you'll need to log in.
Pilt·down man | \ ˈpilt-ˌdau̇n- 
\
\Definition of Piltdown man
: a supposedly very early hominid erroneously reconstructed in the early 1900s from what was later determined to be human skull fragments and an orangutan lower jaw planted by a hoaxer
Keep scrolling for more
Comments on Piltdown man
What made you want to look up Piltdown man? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Test Your Vocabulary
Semantic Drift Quiz
- Which of the following was once a synonym for fun?
Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?
TAKE THE QUIZ
Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.
TAKE THE QUIZLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridgedWords at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games
Share Piltdown man
Time Traveler for Piltdown man
The first known use of Piltdown man was in 1913
See more words from the same year