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

The other branches—the archaic hominins, as scientists call them—include the Neanderthals, who lived across Europe and western Asia, and the Denisovans, who are known mostly from a handful of fossils found in Siberia and Tibet. — Jacek Krywko, Scientific American, 30 July 2026

In other words, hominins descended from Homo erectus should have at least the same skills and cognitive abilities, which would include things like using fire and, potentially, organized hunting parties. — ArsTechnica, 9 July 2026

Fossils unearthed by archaeologists in the Liang Bua cave on the Indonesian island of Flores in 2003 led to the discovery of the diminutive hominin. — Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 3 July 2026

Other hominins disappeared, with the exception of the remnants of Neanderthals found in our DNA. — Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 14 June 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