australopithecine

noun

aus·​tra·​lo·​pith·​e·​cine ȯ-ˌstrā-lō-ˈpi-thə-ˌsīn 

ä-;

ˌȯ-strə-,

ˌä-

: any of various extinct hominids (genera Australopithecus and Paranthropus) that existed two to four million years ago in southern and eastern Africa and include gracile and robust forms exhibiting bipedal locomotion, near-human dentition, and relatively small brains

australopithecine adjective

Examples of australopithecine in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Previous research has shown that Australopithecus afarensis, a species of australopithecine that lived in East Africa from around 3.9 million years to 3 million years ago, likely had a diet of grasses, sedges, and succulents typically found in tropical savannas and deserts. —Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 17 Jan. 2025

The fossils indicated that these australopithecines stood and walked upright, despite having some characteristics in the skull and limbs that appeared more ape-like. —Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 Nov. 2024

Recent analyses of fossil teeth indicate that grandparents were rare in ancient populations, such as those of the australopithecines and the Neandertals. —Rachel Caspari, Scientific American, 1 Oct. 2016

Word History

Etymology

ultimately from Latin australis + Greek pithēkos ape

First Known Use

1943, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for australopithecine

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Kids Definition

australopithecine

adjective

aus·​tra·​lo·​pith·​e·​cine ȯ-ˌstrā-lō-ˈpith-ə-ˌsīn 

ä-ˌstrā-;

ˌȯs-trə-,

ˌäs-trə-

: of or relating to a group of extinct southern African apes that stood upright, walked on two legs, and had teeth somewhat like those of human beings but had a smaller brain

australopithecine noun