sapiens
adjective
sa·pi·ens
ˈsa-pē-ənz 
ˈsā-,
-ˌenz
: of, relating to, or being recent humans (Homo sapiens) as distinguished from various fossil hominids
Examples of sapiens in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In a recent press release, the authors of a new study published in Archaeology in Oceania explained that previous studies suggest that Homo sapiens and Neanderthals interbred only once, between 43,500 and 51,500 years ago.
—
Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2025
But, after Darwin’s implication that Homo sapiens is not creation’s pinnacle, scientists began accepting that there may be far more alien modes of mind.
—Thomas Moynihan, Big Think, 20 Aug. 2025
Additionally, there’s evidence, especially in North America and Siberia, of H. sapiens hunting megafauna.
—Sara Novak, Discover Magazine, 10 Jan. 2023
Research published online today in Science has identified these sapiens-specific variants and homed in on one in particular that may have brought about a pivotal change in the way our brain develops.
—Kate Wong, Scientific American, 11 Feb. 2021
In that case, an early H. sapiens woman likely interbred with a Neanderthal man more than 220,000 years ago and their descendants carried the modern mtDNA.
—Ann Gibbons, Science | AAAS, 24 Sep. 2020
Researchers say that in comparisons with Neanderthal and H. sapiens species, the dimensions of the fossil finger fell within the range of measures for ancient and modern humans -- not Neanderthals.
—Fox News, 5 Sep. 2019
Until this week, the earliest known fossils of Homo sapiens were about 200,000 years old.
—Annalee Newitz, Ars Technica, 11 June 2017
The remaining challenge, however, was to identify these fossils as clearly being Homo sapiens.
—Ben Panko, Smithsonian, 8 June 2017
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Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2025
But, after Darwin’s implication that Homo sapiens is not creation’s pinnacle, scientists began accepting that there may be far more alien modes of mind.
—Thomas Moynihan, Big Think, 20 Aug. 2025
Additionally, there’s evidence, especially in North America and Siberia, of H. sapiens hunting megafauna.
—Sara Novak, Discover Magazine, 10 Jan. 2023
Research published online today in Science has identified these sapiens-specific variants and homed in on one in particular that may have brought about a pivotal change in the way our brain develops.
—Kate Wong, Scientific American, 11 Feb. 2021
In that case, an early H. sapiens woman likely interbred with a Neanderthal man more than 220,000 years ago and their descendants carried the modern mtDNA.
—Ann Gibbons, Science | AAAS, 24 Sep. 2020
Researchers say that in comparisons with Neanderthal and H. sapiens species, the dimensions of the fossil finger fell within the range of measures for ancient and modern humans -- not Neanderthals.
—Fox News, 5 Sep. 2019
Until this week, the earliest known fossils of Homo sapiens were about 200,000 years old.
—Annalee Newitz, Ars Technica, 11 June 2017
The remaining challenge, however, was to identify these fossils as clearly being Homo sapiens.
—Ben Panko, Smithsonian, 8 June 2017
Cite this Entry
“Sapiens.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sapiens. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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