ape-man: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2Informal, Literary, Historical, Potentially Offensive
Quick answer
What does “ape-man” mean?
A prehistoric creature representing a supposed evolutionary link between apes and humans.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A prehistoric creature representing a supposed evolutionary link between apes and humans; a very primitive or brutish human.
Can be used derogatorily to describe a man who is perceived as extremely uncivilized, crude, or physically brutish.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. More likely to appear in British adventure or historical fiction (e.g., H. Rider Haggard).
Connotations
Equally pejorative in both varieties when used figuratively.
Frequency
Very low frequency in both. Slightly more established in UK English due to older literary usage.
Grammar
How to Use “ape-man” in a Sentence
He behaved like an ape-man.The fossils were labelled 'ape-man'.They depicted him as a grunting ape-man.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “ape-man” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- (Not used as a verb)
American English
- (Not used as a verb)
adverb
British English
- (Not used as an adverb)
American English
- (Not used as an adverb)
adjective
British English
- He had an ape-man strength about him.
- It was an ape-man level of understanding.
American English
- She described his manners as ape-man crude.
- They lived in ape-man simplicity.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used. Possibly as a hyperbolic, offensive insult for a boorish colleague (highly unprofessional).
Academic
Outdated in paleoanthropology. May appear in historical texts or popular science writing to describe outdated concepts.
Everyday
Used as a strong insult implying stupidity and crude behaviour.
Technical
Not a technical term. Use specific taxa like *Australopithecus*, *Homo habilis*, etc.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “ape-man”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “ape-man”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “ape-man”
- Using it as a formal scientific term. | Writing it as 'apeman' (hyphenated or two words is standard). | Confusing it with 'missing link', which is a broader concept.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is an outdated popular term from the late 19th/early 20th centuries. Modern science uses specific taxonomic names like *Australopithecus* or *Homo neanderthalensis*.
You can, but it is a very strong, derogatory insult implying that a person is subhuman, brutish, and unintelligent. It is highly offensive.
Both can be used figuratively as insults. 'Ape-man' stresses evolutionary primitiveness and a bestial nature. 'Caveman' often stresses outdated, simplistic, or boorish attitudes, sometimes in a more humorous or less severe way.
Yes, the standard dictionary form is hyphenated: ape-man.
A prehistoric creature representing a supposed evolutionary link between apes and humans.
Ape-man is usually informal, literary, historical, potentially offensive in register.
Ape-man: in British English it is pronounced /ˈeɪp ˌmæn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈeɪp ˌmæn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of APE-MAN: A Primitive Evolutionary Missing-link ANcestor.
Conceptual Metaphor
HUMAN IS ANIMAL (lower, less evolved). CIVILIZATION IS A LADDER, with ape-man at the bottom.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'ape-man' MOST appropriate today?