Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Characterizing or belonging to the family Hominidae, which includes modern humans (Homo sapiens) and their extinct, bipedal relatives.

2. Noun:

   • A primate belonging to the family Hominidae; any member of this biological family, which includes modern and extinct humans, as well as great apes like chimpanzees, gorillas, and orangutans in some modern classifications.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • The fossil exhibited several hominid traits, such as a large cranial capacity.
  • Scientists study hominid evolution to understand the origins of bipedalism.

• Noun:

  • Neanderthals are an extinct species of hominid.
  • The discovery of a new hominid skull provided crucial evidence about early human migration.

Advanced Usage

• In scientific discourse: The term is used to discuss anatomical features, evolutionary relationships, and fossil records within the hominid lineage.
  • The debate centers on which hominid species was the direct ancestor of Homo sapiens.

Variants and Related Words

• Hominin (Noun): In more precise modern taxonomy, this term often refers to the tribe Hominini, which includes humans and our extinct ancestors after the divergence from the chimpanzee lineage, but excludes other great apes.
  • Australopithecus afarensis is considered a key hominin species.

Synonyms

• Human-like (Adjective, informal): Having characteristics resembling humans.
• Hominine (Adjective/Noun): Pertaining to a subfamily or tribe within Hominidae; sometimes used more narrowly than "hominid."

Related Phrases/Idioms

(This term is primarily scientific and technical; common idioms are not typically associated with it.)

Adjective

1. characterizing the family Hominidae, which includes Homo sapiens as well as extinct species of manlike creatures

Noun

1. a primate of the family Hominidae