hominin

noun

hom·​i·​nin ˈhä-mə-nən How to pronounce hominin (audio)
-ˌnin
: any of a taxonomic tribe (Hominini) of hominids that includes recent humans together with extinct ancestral and related forms

Examples of hominin in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Footprints reveal ancient hominin interactions While stories about interactions between the more recent species of modern humans, Neanderthals and Denisovans aren’t unexpected these days, scientists are often only left to speculate about how earlier hominins may have interacted with each other. Ryan McRae, Smithsonian Magazine, 31 Dec. 2024 In complex societies where members often lose sight of one another—such as those of elephants or our hominin ancestors—the need to identify and attract others’ attention might have driven cognitive abilities and language development. Marta Zaraska, Scientific American, 10 June 2024 The skull fragments, teeth, jaws and other remains unearthed at different sites across the country are clearly remnants of archaic hominins — the formal name for species in the human lineage — who lived between 300,000 and 100,000 years ago. Katie Hunt, CNN, 24 Jan. 2025 Newsletter Sign up for our email newsletter for the latest science news Long before humans acquired an appetite for meat, one of our earliest hominin ancestors — Australopithecus — stuck to a vegetarian diet. Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 17 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for hominin 

Word History

Etymology

New Latin Hominini, from Homin-, Homo + -ini, tribe suffix, from Latin -inus -ine entry 1

First Known Use

1989, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hominin was in 1989

Dictionary Entries Near hominin

Cite this Entry

“Hominin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hominin. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.

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