hominoid: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2 (Very low frequency, specialized term)Technical/Scientific (primarily biological anthropology, paleontology, evolutionary biology); occasionally academic or science fiction.
Quick answer
What does “hominoid” mean?
a member of the superfamily Hominoidea, including all living and extinct great apes (chimpanzees, gorillas, orangutans, humans) and lesser apes (gibbons).
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
a member of the superfamily Hominoidea, including all living and extinct great apes (chimpanzees, gorillas, orangutans, humans) and lesser apes (gibbons).
Any creature resembling a human in form or characteristics; used in science fiction or speculative biology to describe human-like aliens or artificial beings.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The term is equally technical in both varieties.
Connotations
Neutral, scientific. In popular culture (especially American sci-fi), it may carry a slightly more monstrous or alien connotation.
Frequency
Extremely low in general discourse, slightly higher in academic publications in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “hominoid” in a Sentence
The [adjective] hominoid [verb, past tense]...Fossils of [specific] hominoids suggest that...Researchers classify the specimen as a hominoid.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “hominoid” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- The newly discovered Miocene hominoid provides clues about brachiation.
- Gibbons are the smallest of the living hominoids.
American English
- The fossil record for early African hominoids is still fragmentary.
- This hominoid exhibited a unique blend of arboreal and terrestrial adaptations.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Primary context. Used in research papers, lectures, and textbooks on human evolution, primatology, and paleoanthropology.
Everyday
Extremely rare. Might appear in documentaries or high-level science journalism.
Technical
The standard context. Precise taxonomic classification.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “hominoid”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “hominoid”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “hominoid”
- Using 'hominoid' to refer only to human ancestors (that's 'hominin').
- Pronouncing it as /hoʊˈmaɪ.nɔɪd/ (incorrect stress).
- Spelling as 'hominid' or 'humanoid'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Hominoid is the broadest: all apes (great & lesser). Hominid is narrower: great apes (orangutans, gorillas, chimps, humans). Hominin is narrowest: humans and our extinct ancestors after the split from chimpanzees.
In strict terms, no; that's a 'humanoid'. However, in science fiction or metaphorical language, 'hominoid' might be used for a biological, human-like alien creature.
No. It is a specialized scientific term. The average native speaker will likely not know it or will confuse it with 'humanoid'.
Yes. Biologically, humans (genus Homo) are members of the hominoid superfamily.
a member of the superfamily Hominoidea, including all living and extinct great apes (chimpanzees, gorillas, orangutans, humans) and lesser apes (gibbons).
Hominoid is usually technical/scientific (primarily biological anthropology, paleontology, evolutionary biology); occasionally academic or science fiction. in register.
Hominoid: in British English it is pronounced /ˈhɒm.ɪ.nɔɪd/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈhɑː.mə.nɔɪd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'HOMO' (man) + '-OID' (resembling) = resembling a human/ape.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE TREE OF LIFE (hominoids are a major branch); THE MISSING LINK (often applied to fossil hominoids).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the BEST definition of 'hominoid' in technical use?