hominin

noun

hom·​i·​nin ˈhä-mə-nən How to pronounce hominin (audio)
-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 Whether the product of a dangerous hunt or mere scavenging, the pelt would have provided warmth and perhaps social status for one or more hominins. Matt Hrodey, Discover Magazine, 2 Nov. 2023 On the contrary, Neanderthal genes and those of other ancient hominins persisted in the modern human genome, evidence of how intimately we were entangled. Sonia Shah, New York Times, 20 Sep. 2023 At the start of the first (and by far the longest), our hominin ancestors realized that some of the objects that were lying around—rocks, primarily—could be fashioned into implements. Elizabeth Kolbert, The New Yorker, 23 Oct. 2023 These hominins walked the Earth long before the emergence of modern humans and exhibit a fascinating mosaic of traits that connect our roots. Conor Feehly, Discover Magazine, 11 Oct. 2023 According to their simulations, the potential optimum group size for scavenging hominins was just over 10 individuals. Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 28 Sep. 2023 Preservation and clarity Usually, to identify hominin tracks, the presence and alignment of toe impressions is a crucial factor. Charles Helm, Discover Magazine, 13 Sep. 2023 Many Pleistocene hominin fossils discovered in China have been similarly difficult to classify, and were previously perceived to be anomalies, according to the study. Hafsa Khalil, CNN, 10 Aug. 2023 During all simulations in which the hominins banded together in groups of fewer than five individuals, hyena populations outcompeted them. Brian Handwerk, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Sep. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hominin.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of hominin was in 1989

Dictionary Entries Near hominin

Cite this Entry

“Hominin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hominin. Accessed 29 Nov. 2023.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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