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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Traditionally, there was skepticism about the existence of abstract or symbolic thought in early hominins. Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 7 Feb. 2025 Together, the bones and tracks reveal hominins that split their time between the ground and the trees that were beginning to become scarcer as the world’s climate grew cooler and drier. Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 Nov. 2024 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 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

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Cite this Entry

“Hominin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hominin. Accessed 10 Mar. 2025.

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