homo

¹

[ hoh-moh ]

noun

, Slang: Extremely Disparaging and Offensive.

, plural ho·mos.

1. a contemptuous term used to refer to a gay person, especially a gay man.

Homo

²

[ hoh-moh ]

noun

1. the genus of bipedal primates that includes modern humans and several extinct forms, distinguished by their large brains and a dependence upon tools. Compare archaic Homo.
2. Facetious. (used in made-up taxonomic expressions to denote a type of human being):

   The door opens, and in walks Homo stupidus.

homo-

³

1. a combining form appearing in loanwords from Greek, where it meant “same” ( homology ); on this model, used in the formation of compound words ( homomorphic ).

homo-

¹

combining_form

1. See hetero-
   being the same or like Compare hetero-

   homosexual

   homologous

homo

²

/ ˈhəʊməʊ /

noun

1. See homosexual
   informal.
   short for homosexual

homo

³

/ ˈhəʊməʊ /

noun

1. informal.
   homogenized milk

Homo

⁴

/ ˈhəʊməʊ /

noun

1. a genus of hominids including modern man (see Homo sapiens ) and several extinct species of primitive man, including Homo habilis and Homo erectus

homo–

1. A prefix meaning “same,” as in homogamous, having the same kind of flower.

Homo

1. The genus to which human beings belong. The genus Homo includes Neanderthals and other hominids closely related to today's humans, such as .

Word History and Origins

Origin of homo¹

First recorded in 1920–25; by shortening of homosexual ( def )

Origin of homo²

First recorded in 1590–1600; from Latin homō “man, human,” literally “the earthly one,” derivative of humus “earth, ground, soil”; related to Latin hūmānus “pertaining to man, human”; akin to Old English guma, Old Irish duine, Welsh dyn, Old Lithuanian žmuõ “human being”; humus, human

Origin of homo³

< Greek, combining form of homós one and the same; akin to Sanskrit sama-; same

Word History and Origins

Origin of homo¹

via Latin from Greek, from homos same

Origin of homo²

Latin: man

Example Sentences

Understanding odds has never been a strength of Homo sapiens.

From The Daily Beast

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

From The Daily Beast

The results are in and Homo habilis, our primate forebear, has won another round.

From The Daily Beast

During Koch's 1977 mayoral primary against Mario, posters of mysterious origin appeared saying, “Vote for Cuomo, Not the Homo”.

From The Daily Beast

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

From The Daily Beast

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

From Project Gutenberg

But what about the other doctrine, which he declares to be a part of the same programme — Homo Mensura — the Protagorean formula?

From Project Gutenberg

He at the same time announces that his theory rests upon a principle opposed to the “Homo Mensura” of Protagoras.

From Project Gutenberg

At an early part of the period to which this chapter belongs, the famous volume entitled “Ecce Homo” was published.

From Project Gutenberg

His last book, “Ecce Homo,” an autobiography, contains all the premonitory symptoms of the threatening tragedy.

From Project Gutenberg