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View synonyms for Homo sapiens

Homo sapiens

[ hoh-moh sey-pee-uhnz ]

noun

  1. the species of bipedal primates to which modern humans ( Homo sapiens sapiens ) belong, characterized by a large brain, a nearly vertical forehead, a skeletal build lighter and teeth smaller than earlier humans, and dependence upon language and the creation and utilization of complex tools: the species has existed for about 200,000 years. Boskop man, Cro-Magnon, Marmes man, Niah Cave.


Homo sapiens

/ ˈsæpɪˌɛnz /

noun

  1. the specific name of modern man; the only extant species of the genus Homo. This species also includes extinct types of primitive man such as Cro-Magnon man See also man
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


Homo sapiens

/ pē-ənz /

  1. The modern species of humans. Archaic forms of Homo sapiens probably evolved around 300,000 years ago or earlier in Africa, and anatomically modern fossils are known from about 100,000 years ago. All humans now living belong to the subspecies Homo sapiens sapiens . The closest living relative of Homo sapiens is the chimpanzee.


Homo sapiens

  1. The biological classification of modern humans. Homo sapiens is Latin for “the wise human” or “the clever human.” The earliest Homo sapiens was Neanderthal , who developed about 150,000 years ago. Sometimes modern humans are further classified into the subspecies of Homo sapiens neanderthalis (Neanderthals) and Homo sapiens sapiens ( Cro-Magnons and present-day humans). ( See Linnean classification .)


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Word History and Origins

Origin of Homo sapiens1

First recorded in 1770–75; from New Latin: literally, “rational man”; Homo ( def ), sapient ( def )
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Word History and Origins

Origin of Homo sapiens1

New Latin, from Latin homo man + sapiens wise
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Compare Meanings

How does Homo sapiens compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

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Example Sentences

Understanding odds has never been a strength of Homo sapiens.

In some very real sense, 21st-century Hollywood has forgotten how to use living, breathing Homo sapiens in action movies.

But in terms of beneficial public-health impact, nothing Homo sapiens has invented thus far outpaces the vaccine.

He'd reveal definite indications of belonging to Homo Sapiens only when drinking beer and talking about his holes.

But an extremely primitive race has survived until the present time to demonstrate the original type of Homo sapiens.

There are structural differences so far removed from ours that they could not possibly be Homo Sapiens.

Was the oldest Homo sapiens pliocene or miocene, or yet more ancient?

Man (Homo sapiens) is the only native representative of this order in our country.

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homoromanticHomo sapiens idaltu