cro-magnon man: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Scientific, academic, historical; sometimes derogatory in informal metaphorical use.
Quick answer
What does “cro-magnon man” mean?
The name for the early form of modern human (Homo sapiens) that lived in Europe and the Near East during the Upper Paleolithic period, approximately 40,000 to 10,000 years ago, and is associated with cave art and advanced tool use.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The name for the early form of modern human (Homo sapiens) that lived in Europe and the Near East during the Upper Paleolithic period, approximately 40,000 to 10,000 years ago, and is associated with cave art and advanced tool use.
Sometimes used informally or metaphorically to denote someone perceived as extremely primitive, brutish, or backward in their attitudes or behaviour, especially regarding gender roles or social norms.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning. The term is equally used in both scientific and informal contexts across both varieties.
Connotations
In both varieties, the metaphorical use carries a strong negative connotation of outdated, knuckle-dragging masculinity or anti-social behaviour.
Frequency
Low frequency in both, primarily confined to anthropology/archaeology texts, documentaries, and specific figurative insults.
Grammar
How to Use “cro-magnon man” in a Sentence
[The] Cro-Magnon man [verb: lived, hunted, painted]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cro-magnon man” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He tends to Cro-Magnon his way through meetings, grunting instead of speaking.
American English
- He totally Cro-Magnoned that negotiation, just demanding what he wanted.
adverb
British English
- He behaved Cro-Magnonly, refusing to use the new software.
American English
- He argued his point Cro-Magnonly, with no regard for evidence.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Possible in metaphorical criticism of outdated practices or attitudes: 'Their marketing strategy is from the Cro-Magnon man era.'
Academic
Primary context. Used in anthropology, archaeology, and history to describe a specific fossil group and culture.
Everyday
Almost exclusively metaphorical and pejorative: 'Stop eating with your hands like a Cro-Magnon man!'
Technical
Specific term in paleoanthropology, though often replaced by more precise modern classifications.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “cro-magnon man”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “cro-magnon man”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cro-magnon man”
- Misspelling: 'Cromagnon', 'Cro-Magnun'.
- Using lowercase ('cro-magnon man').
- Confusing with Neanderthals.
- Using the scientific term in an informal insult where 'Neanderthal' or 'caveman' might be more common.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. They are distinct groups. Cro-Magnon refers to early Homo sapiens, while Neanderthals (Homo neanderthalensis) were a separate, closely related human species that went extinct.
When used metaphorically to describe a living person, it is a strong insult implying they are brutish, uncivilized, and hopelessly out of date, often with a focus on stereotypically primitive male behaviour.
It is still recognized and used, but in technical literature, more precise terms like 'Early Modern Humans' or 'Anatomically Modern Humans (AMH)' of the European Upper Paleolithic are often preferred.
It comes from the Cro-Magnon rock shelter in Les Eyzies, Dordogne, France, where the first fossils of this type were discovered in 1868.
The name for the early form of modern human (Homo sapiens) that lived in Europe and the Near East during the Upper Paleolithic period, approximately 40,000 to 10,000 years ago, and is associated with cave art and advanced tool use.
Cro-magnon man is usually scientific, academic, historical; sometimes derogatory in informal metaphorical use. in register.
Cro-magnon man: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkrəʊ ˈmænjɒ̃ mæn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkroʊ ˈmæɡnɑːn mæn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “He has the social graces of a Cro-Magnon man.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a CROW (sounds like 'Cro') with a MAGNifying glass (Magnon) examining a primitive MAN's bones in a cave.
Conceptual Metaphor
PRIMITIVE/OUTDATED BEHAVIOUR IS CRO-MAGNON BEHAVIOUR.
Practice
Quiz
In its modern metaphorical sense, 'Cro-Magnon man' is most likely to be used to criticize what?