hominid: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowAcademic, Scientific
Quick answer
What does “hominid” mean?
A member of the family Hominidae, which includes modern humans, extinct human species, and all our immediate ancestors (like Australopithecus).
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A member of the family Hominidae, which includes modern humans, extinct human species, and all our immediate ancestors (like Australopithecus).
In earlier classifications, a member of the family Hominidae including only humans and their extinct ancestors after the split from the great apes. In modern broader classifications, the family includes great apes (gorillas, chimpanzees, orangutans) as well. The term is often used in scientific contexts to discuss human evolution.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. The term is used identically in scientific communities in both regions.
Connotations
Purely scientific, neutral. No regional connotations.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both UK and US outside academic/scientific contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “hominid” in a Sentence
The + [ADJECTIVE] + hominid + [VERB] (e.g., The discovered hominid walked upright.)[NOUN PHRASE] + of + hominid + [NOUN] (e.g., the evolution of hominid species)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “hominid” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Not applicable. 'Hominid' is a noun.
American English
- Not applicable. 'Hominid' is a noun.
adverb
British English
- Not applicable. No adverbial form exists.
American English
- Not applicable. No adverbial form exists.
adjective
British English
- Not applicable. 'Hominid' is a noun. The adjectival form is 'hominid' (attributive noun) or 'hominine'.
- The hominid fossil record is extensive in Africa.
American English
- Not applicable. 'Hominid' is a noun. The adjectival form is 'hominid' (attributive noun) or 'hominine'.
- Hominid evolution is a key topic in paleoanthropology.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Extremely rare, only if discussing, e.g., a museum exhibition or documentary film project.
Academic
Common in anthropology, archaeology, paleontology, and evolutionary biology.
Everyday
Very rare. Might be encountered in documentaries or popular science articles.
Technical
The primary register. Used precisely to discuss taxonomy and fossil records.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “hominid”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “hominid”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “hominid”
- Pronunciation: Mispronouncing as /ˈhəʊ.mɪ.nɪd/ (like 'home'). Correct first syllable is like 'hom' in 'hominy'.
- Spelling: Confusing with 'hominoid' (a broader superfamily) or 'hominin' (a narrower tribe).
- Using it in everyday conversation where 'early human' or 'ancestor' would be more appropriate.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Hominoid' is the broadest category, including all apes (gibbons, orangutans, gorillas, chimps, humans). 'Hominid' traditionally meant humans and ancestors after the ape split, but now often includes great apes. 'Hominin' is the narrowest, including only humans and our extinct ancestors after the split from chimpanzees.
No, it is a low-frequency, specialist term used almost exclusively in academic, scientific, and educational contexts like documentaries or museum displays.
Not precisely. 'Caveman' is an informal, non-scientific term for certain prehistoric humans. 'Hominid' is a scientific family name that includes many species that were not 'cavemen' and, in modern use, also includes living great apes.
No. All humans are hominids, but not all hominids are humans. In the modern broad definition, gorillas and chimpanzees are also hominids but are not human.
A member of the family Hominidae, which includes modern humans, extinct human species, and all our immediate ancestors (like Australopithecus).
Hominid is usually academic, scientific in register.
Hominid: in British English it is pronounced /ˈhɒm.ɪ.nɪd/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈhɑː.mə.nɪd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None. It is a technical term.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'HOMInid' – relates to 'HOMO sapiens' (modern humans). It's the family name for 'us' and our closest relatives in the tree of life.
Conceptual Metaphor
None specific. It is a literal taxonomic classification.
Practice
Quiz
In modern biological taxonomy, which of the following is a hominid?