cro-magnon: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Technical (archaeology, anthropology); Informal/Pejorative (figurative use).
Quick answer
What does “cro-magnon” mean?
An early form of modern human (Homo sapiens) that lived in Europe during the Upper Paleolithic period, about 40,000 to 10,000 years ago.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An early form of modern human (Homo sapiens) that lived in Europe during the Upper Paleolithic period, about 40,000 to 10,000 years ago.
Often used informally or disparagingly to refer to someone considered primitive, outdated, or having crude, old-fashioned attitudes, particularly in regard to gender roles or social behavior.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning. The informal pejorative use is slightly more common in American English.
Connotations
The pejorative use carries the same strong negative connotation in both varieties, implying brutish, unenlightened, or regressive behavior.
Frequency
The technical term is low-frequency in both. The figurative, pejorative use is rare but more likely encountered in opinion journalism or informal critique.
Grammar
How to Use “cro-magnon” in a Sentence
behave like a Cro-Magnonhave Cro-Magnon attitudesbe accused of being (a) Cro-MagnonVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cro-magnon” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- His views on equality are frankly cro-magnon.
- It was a cro-magnon approach to management.
American English
- She called his behavior totally Cro-Magnon.
- The company's policies are stuck in a Cro-Magnon era.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used. Might appear in hyperbolic criticism of outdated policies: 'Their HR strategy is positively Cro-Magnon.'
Academic
Used specifically in archaeology, anthropology, and paleontology to denote the specific early human population.
Everyday
Rare. Used as a strong insult implying someone is primitive, especially in attitudes towards gender (e.g., 'He's such a cro-magnon about housework').
Technical
The primary context. Refers to Homo sapiens fossils found at the Cro-Magnon rock shelter in France and associated populations across Europe.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “cro-magnon”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “cro-magnon”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cro-magnon”
- Misspelling as 'Crow Magnon' or 'Cromagnun'.
- Using it as a synonym for any caveman (it specifically refers to *Homo sapiens*, not Neanderthals).
- Overusing the pejorative sense in formal writing.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Neanderthals (Homo neanderthalensis) were a distinct, closely related species that largely went extinct. Cro-Magnons were early Homo sapiens, our direct ancestors.
When used as a pejorative adjective (e.g., 'cro-magnon attitudes'), it is often lowercased, following the convention of genericizing a proper noun. The formal archaeological term is capitalized.
Yes, but with precision. In archaeology and anthropology, 'Cro-Magnon' is a standard term. Its informal, pejorative sense is inappropriate for formal academic work outside of perhaps sociological critique.
It comes from the Abri de Cro-Magnon ('rock shelter of Big/Croft Magnon'), a site in Les Eyzies, Dordogne, France, where the first skeletons were identified in 1868.
An early form of modern human (Homo sapiens) that lived in Europe during the Upper Paleolithic period, about 40,000 to 10,000 years ago.
Cro-magnon: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkrəʊ ˈmænjɒ̃/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkroʊ ˈmæɡnən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms. The word itself is used figuratively as a metaphor.]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a CRowd of MAGNificent early artists (like in the Lascaux caves) – they were the Cro-Magnon people.
Conceptual Metaphor
A PRIMITIVE/OUTDATED PERSON IS A PREHISTORIC HUMAN.
Practice
Quiz
In its technical, academic sense, 'Cro-Magnon' refers to: