hom·i·nid
ˈhä-mə-nəd 
-ˌnid
plural hominids
: any of a family (Hominidae) of erect bipedal primate mammals that includes recent humans together with extinct ancestral and related forms and in some recent classifications the great apes (the orangutan, gorilla, chimpanzee, and bonobo)
: of, relating to, or being a member of a family (Hominidae) of erect, bipedal, primate mammals that includes recent humans together with extinct ancestral and related forms and in some recent classifications the gorilla, chimpanzee, and orangutan
The discovery of a 3.5-million-year-old hominid skull and other fossil remains in northern Kenya is shaking the human family tree at its very roots.—
Michael Balter
Michael Balter
Examples of hominid in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the WebThe Arizona Republic, 18 Aug. 2023
This early language may have begun with one of our distant predecessors, a now-extinct hominid who had a special neurological aptitude.
—Matt Hrodey, Discover Magazine, 29 June 2023
Shielding the head from heat could have been crucial for early hominid ancestors living in Africa under the equatorial sun.
—Victoria Sayo Turner, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 June 2023
This species of ancient hominid was living and walking around on two feet in East Africa 3.7 to 3 million years ago, long before the earliest stone tools were made.
—Sara Kiley Watson, Popular Science, 14 June 2023
Increasing evidence shows that intermingling once occurred among various hominids—Neanderthals, modern humans, Denisovans, and maybe others—tens of thousands of years ago.
—Byelizabeth Pennisi, science.org, 1 June 2023
One of the most plausible, researchers suggested, was gene flow from another, as-yet-unknown but Denisovan-like hominid into the Sima de los Huesos group.
—Gemma Tarlach, Discover Magazine, 4 Dec. 2013
The bacteria Mycobacteria tuberculosis, for example, leaves scars on the bones of some of its victims, including--possibly--a 500,000-year-old hominid with TB.
—Carl Zimmer, Discover Magazine, 18 Aug. 2010
Some studies have shown that ancient hominids have been using psychotropic plants and drugs as far back as 200 million years ago.
—Sara Kiley Watson, Popular Science, 14 Mar. 2023
Matt Hrodey, Discover Magazine, 6 Sep. 2023
If there were an earlier hominid exodus from Africa 2 million years ago or longer, researchers don’t expect to find the proof at Dmanisi.
—Gemma Tarlach, Discover Magazine, 26 Feb. 2015
This same fossil site is home to the famous footprints of the hominid Australopithecus.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 21 June 2023
But these adaptations may have cost the hominid resilience to other environmental pressures.
—Roni Dengler, Discover Magazine, 16 July 2019
An enlarged brain case also distinguishes this species from our more distant, early hominid ancestor Australopithecus — famously known for the 3-million-year-old Lucy specimen in Ethiopia.
—Tree Meinch, Discover Magazine, 30 May 2023
Thirteen hominid teeth that were discovered in a cave on an island in the English Channel between 1910 and 1911 have been re-examined with CT technology by researchers from The Natural History Museum of London, UCL Institute of Archaeology, University of Kent and four other institutions.
—Rebecca Coffey, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2021
All the hominid fossils found so far have been between two layers of volcanic rock from regional eruptions conclusively dated between 1.76 million and 1.85 million years ago.
—Gemma Tarlach, Discover Magazine, 26 Feb. 2015
The fossil remains of an early hominid child have been discovered in a cave in South Africa by a team of international and South African researchers.
—Sebabatso Mosamo, USA TODAY, 7 Nov. 2021
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Noun
Sightings of the Mogollon Monster have been reported in the eastern part of Arizona and people have described a hairy hominid with human-like proportions that emits pungent smells.
—The Arizona Republic, 18 Aug. 2023
This early language may have begun with one of our distant predecessors, a now-extinct hominid who had a special neurological aptitude.
—Matt Hrodey, Discover Magazine, 29 June 2023
Shielding the head from heat could have been crucial for early hominid ancestors living in Africa under the equatorial sun.
—Victoria Sayo Turner, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 June 2023
This species of ancient hominid was living and walking around on two feet in East Africa 3.7 to 3 million years ago, long before the earliest stone tools were made.
—Sara Kiley Watson, Popular Science, 14 June 2023
Increasing evidence shows that intermingling once occurred among various hominids—Neanderthals, modern humans, Denisovans, and maybe others—tens of thousands of years ago.
—Byelizabeth Pennisi, science.org, 1 June 2023
One of the most plausible, researchers suggested, was gene flow from another, as-yet-unknown but Denisovan-like hominid into the Sima de los Huesos group.
—Gemma Tarlach, Discover Magazine, 4 Dec. 2013
The bacteria Mycobacteria tuberculosis, for example, leaves scars on the bones of some of its victims, including--possibly--a 500,000-year-old hominid with TB.
—Carl Zimmer, Discover Magazine, 18 Aug. 2010
Some studies have shown that ancient hominids have been using psychotropic plants and drugs as far back as 200 million years ago.
—Sara Kiley Watson, Popular Science, 14 Mar. 2023
Adjective
Generations that lived through the stark 117,000-year period helped to rebuild hominid populations in Europe and Asia to a relatively stable level of about 27,160 breeders.
—Matt Hrodey, Discover Magazine, 6 Sep. 2023
If there were an earlier hominid exodus from Africa 2 million years ago or longer, researchers don’t expect to find the proof at Dmanisi.
—Gemma Tarlach, Discover Magazine, 26 Feb. 2015
This same fossil site is home to the famous footprints of the hominid Australopithecus.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 21 June 2023
But these adaptations may have cost the hominid resilience to other environmental pressures.
—Roni Dengler, Discover Magazine, 16 July 2019
An enlarged brain case also distinguishes this species from our more distant, early hominid ancestor Australopithecus — famously known for the 3-million-year-old Lucy specimen in Ethiopia.
—Tree Meinch, Discover Magazine, 30 May 2023
Thirteen hominid teeth that were discovered in a cave on an island in the English Channel between 1910 and 1911 have been re-examined with CT technology by researchers from The Natural History Museum of London, UCL Institute of Archaeology, University of Kent and four other institutions.
—Rebecca Coffey, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2021
All the hominid fossils found so far have been between two layers of volcanic rock from regional eruptions conclusively dated between 1.76 million and 1.85 million years ago.
—Gemma Tarlach, Discover Magazine, 26 Feb. 2015
The fossil remains of an early hominid child have been discovered in a cave in South Africa by a team of international and South African researchers.
—Sebabatso Mosamo, USA TODAY, 7 Nov. 2021
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hominid.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Hominid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hominid. Accessed 27 Sep. 2023.
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Kids Definition
hominid
noun
hom·i·nid
ˈhäm-ə-nəd
-ˌnid
: any of a family of two-footed primate mammals that include the human beings together with their extinct ancestors and related forms
hominid
adjective
Medical Definition
hominid
noun
hom·i·nid
ˈhäm-ə-nəd, -ˌnid
: any of a family (Hominidae) of erect, bipedal, primate mammals that includes recent humans together with extinct ancestral and related forms and the gorilla, chimpanzee, bonobo, and orangutan
hominid
adjective
More from Merriam-Webster on hominid
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for hominid
Britannica English: Translation of hominid for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about hominid
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