anthropoid

noun

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an·thro·poid | \ ˈan(t)-thrə-ˌpȯid

Definition of anthropoid

1 : any of a suborder (Anthropoidea) of higher primates (such as macaques and marmosets) especially : ape sense 1a

2 : a person resembling an ape the howling anthropoids of the Hookworm Belt— H. L. Mencken

Other Words from anthropoid Did You Know? More Example Sentences Learn More about anthropoid

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Did You Know?

With its suffix -oid, meaning "resembling", the word anthropoid means literally "resembling a human being". Anthropoid apes are so called because they resemble humans more closely than do other primates such as monkeys and lemurs. Some even spend a good deal of time walking on their hind legs. Anthropoids are, of course, highly intelligent (though maybe no more so than many monkeys), and some of them use sticks and stones as tools. (But if you call someone an anthropoid, you're probably not complimenting his intelligence.)

Examples of anthropoid in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web This 65-67 million-year-old relic looked down from on high on the anthropoids enjoying their time of evolutionary flourishing. — Bradley J. Fikes, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Backstory to the 2017 biotech convention in San Diego," 18 June 2017 Since humans are apes, and apes are anthropoid primates, the last common ancestor of all anthropoids would be one of our distant primate ancestors. — Brian Switek, WIRED, "Ganlea megacania and more "missing link" mania," 1 July 2009

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'anthropoid.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

History and Etymology for anthropoid

noun derivative of anthropoid, adjective, "of human beings, human-like (of apes and other members of the taxonomic order Anthropoidea), ape-like," borrowed from Greek anthrōpoeidḗs "of human form," from ánthrōpos "human being" + -oeidēs -oid entry 2 — more at anthropo-

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