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Hominid - Meaning, Definition & English Examples

A hominid is a member of the biological family that includes humans and their extinct ancestors, as well as great apes like chimpanzees and gorillas. It refers to species that walk upright or have human-like features.

hominid

/ˈhɑmənɪd/ /ˈhɒmɪnɪd/

Definition:

A primate of the family Hominidae, including humans and their extinct ancestors.

Synonyms:

human ancestor, primate, anthropoid

Part of Speech:

noun

Antonyms:

non-primate, invertebrate

Common Collocations:

early hominid, hominid evolution, hominid fossils

Derivatives:

hominids, hominine

Usage Tips:

Use "hominid" to refer to humans and their close evolutionary relatives, not other primates like monkeys or apes alone.

Common Phrases:

hominid species, ancient hominid, early hominid remains

Etymology:

From Latin "homo" (man) + "-idae" (family suffix), referring to the biological family of humans and related species.

Examples:

  • 1. The hominid fossils were discovered in Africa.
  • 2. Scientists study hominid evolution to understand human origins.
  • 3. Neanderthals are an extinct hominid species closely related to humans.
  • 4. Hominid tools provide clues about early human behavior.

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