peking man: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low (specialist/technical)Academic, scientific, historical
Quick answer
What does “peking man” mean?
An extinct hominin subspecies (Homo erectus pekinensis) whose fossil remains were discovered near Beijing, China, dating to approximately 750,000–200,000 years ago.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An extinct hominin subspecies (Homo erectus pekinensis) whose fossil remains were discovered near Beijing, China, dating to approximately 750,000–200,000 years ago.
A term in paleoanthropology referring specifically to the population of Homo erectus from Zhoukoudian, China; often used more broadly as a key example in discussions of human evolution and dispersal out of Africa.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in usage, as it is a technical historical term. Both varieties use 'Peking man', though modern publications may use the updated pinyin spelling 'Beijing Man'.
Connotations
Carries historical and scientific connotations. The term 'Peking' itself is an older romanization.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both varieties, confined to specific academic and educational contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “peking man” in a Sentence
[Subject] + discusses/studies/refers to + Peking ManVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “peking man” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The Peking Man discoveries revolutionized our understanding.
- A Peking Man fossil was on display.
American English
- The Peking Man exhibit is fascinating.
- Peking Man research continues to this day.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in anthropology, archaeology, and history textbooks and journals.
Everyday
Rarely used outside of educational documentaries or museums.
Technical
Used in paleoanthropology and related earth sciences.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “peking man”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “peking man”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “peking man”
- Using 'Peking' for the modern city (should be 'Beijing').
- Treating it as a common noun (e.g., 'a Peking man').
- Misspelling as 'Pekin man'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, they refer to the same fossil group. 'Peking' is an older romanization of Beijing.
It provided some of the first strong evidence for human evolution outside of Europe and Africa and offered insights into tool use and fire control by Homo erectus.
No, the original fossils disappeared in 1941 during World War II and have never been recovered. Research is based on casts and detailed records.
It is used historically, but in modern scientific literature, the more precise taxonomic name 'Homo erectus' or the location 'Zhoukoudian' is typically preferred.
An extinct hominin subspecies (Homo erectus pekinensis) whose fossil remains were discovered near Beijing, China, dating to approximately 750,000–200,000 years ago.
Peking man is usually academic, scientific, historical in register.
Peking man: in British English it is pronounced /ˌpiːkɪŋ ˈmæn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌpikɪŋ ˈmæn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
PEKing MAN: Picture a very old (PEKing) ticket (sounds like 'peeking') for a MAN visiting the Forbidden City.
Conceptual Metaphor
A BRICK IN THE WALL OF HUMAN EVOLUTION (Peking Man represents one foundational piece in understanding human ancestry).
Practice
Quiz
What does 'Peking Man' refer to?