biped: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Technical/Scientific, Formal
Quick answer
What does “biped” mean?
An animal that uses only two legs for walking.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An animal that uses only two legs for walking.
Any creature, including humans, or a fictional/robotic entity, characterized by two-legged locomotion.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling is identical.
Connotations
Neutral, technical term in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in technical contexts in both BrE and AmE.
Grammar
How to Use “biped” in a Sentence
[be] a biped[classify as] a biped[evolve into] a bipedVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used, except in industries like robotics (e.g., 'Our latest biped can navigate stairs').
Academic
Common in biology, anthropology, paleontology, and robotics papers.
Everyday
Very rare; 'two-legged animal' or specific names ('human', 'bird', 'kangaroo') are preferred.
Technical
Standard term in relevant fields to describe locomotion morphology.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “biped”
- Confusing 'biped' (noun) with 'bipedal' (adjective). Incorrect: 'Humans are biped.' Correct: 'Humans are bipedal.' or 'Humans are bipeds.'
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a low-frequency, technical term. In everyday language, people name the specific animal (e.g., person, bird, robot).
No, the correct adjective is 'bipedal'. 'Biped' is only a noun.
The most direct antonym is 'quadruped' (four-legged animal). 'Multiped' or 'polyopod' can be used for many-legged creatures.
Yes, for the purpose of terrestrial locomotion, birds are classified as bipeds, even though they also have wings.
An animal that uses only two legs for walking.
Biped is usually technical/scientific, formal in register.
Biped: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbaɪ.ped/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbaɪ.ped/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'BI' (two) + 'PED' (foot, as in 'pedal' or 'pedestrian') = a two-footed creature.
Conceptual Metaphor
UPRIGHTNESS IS ADVANCEMENT (often used when contrasting bipeds with 'lower' quadrupedal animals).
Practice
Quiz
Which of these is an example of a biped?