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 the great apes
Earlier this year, a French team announced the discovery of fossil teeth and limb-bone fragments of a 6-million-year-old hominid …—
B. Bower
B. Bower
: of, relating to, or being a hominid
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 BalterExamples of hominid in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 15 Oct. 2025
Or was this hominid more like a chimp than like us?
—Harmon Siegel, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2025
Sara Hashemi, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 July 2025
If the researchers can extend their findings to earlier spheroids found in Africa, from the Oldowan stone industry, then the balls could serve as some of the first evidence of hominid intelligence.
—Matt Hrodey, Discover Magazine, 18 Sep. 2023
See All Example Sentences for hominid
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Noun
While this is partly true, an international team of archaeologists, geneticists, and chemists are confident that hominids have ingested the metal at various times over millions of years.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 15 Oct. 2025
Or was this hominid more like a chimp than like us?
—Harmon Siegel, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
Researchers also identified two tiny fragments of hominid skull as belonging to H. erectus, an ancient human ancestor.
—Sara Hashemi, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 July 2025
If the researchers can extend their findings to earlier spheroids found in Africa, from the Oldowan stone industry, then the balls could serve as some of the first evidence of hominid intelligence.
—Matt Hrodey, Discover Magazine, 18 Sep. 2023
See All Example Sentences for hominid
Cite this Entry
“Hominid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hominid. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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