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• homo
  homo

  noun

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

  noun

  the genus of bipedal primates that includes modern humans and several extinct forms, distinguished by their large brains and a dependence upon tools.
• homo-
  homo-

  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–
  homo–

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

homo

¹ American  

[hoh-moh] / ˈhoʊ moʊ /

noun

Slang: Extremely Disparaging and Offensive.

plural

homos

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

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Homo ² American  

[hoh-moh] / ˈhoʊ moʊ /

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.

2. Facetious. (used in made-up taxonomic expressions to denote a type of human being).

   The door opens, and in walks Homo stupidus.

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homo- ³ American  

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 ).

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Homo ¹ British  

/ 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

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homo ² British  

/ ˈhəʊməʊ /

noun

1. informal homogenized milk

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homo ³ British  

/ ˈhəʊməʊ /

noun

1. informal short for homosexual

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homo- ⁴ British  

combining form

1. being the same or like Compare hetero-

   homologous

   homosexual

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homo– Scientific  

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

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Homo Cultural  

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

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Etymology

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”; see humus, human

Origin of homo-³

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

Explanation

The genus that includes modern humans is called Homo. "Homo sapiens" are modern humans. Our ancestors had names like "Homo neanderthalensis" and "Homo erectus." Homo is a Latin word that means man, or human. When it is used as a prefix, as in "homosexual," it comes from the Greek word homos, meaning the same. It is from the word "homosexual" that the noun homo is shortened and takes its second meaning — a derogatory term for a homosexual or gay man. Its use is offensive, and you should use other terms instead. It is spelled with a lowercase h in this use.

Example Sentences

We mere homo sapiens are "welcome to observe" Moltbook's goings on, the company says, but we can't post anything.

From BBC • Feb. 2, 2026

But their construction, and ingenuity, has one wondering about the intelligence and fortitude of these homo sapiens who lived as many as 9,000 years ago.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 21, 2025

On "homo economicus," I think Daniel Kahneman called it the most influential theory in social science.

From Salon • Feb. 1, 2025

The script’s ridiculous rationale — which our hero repeatedly intones like he’s hypnotizing us to believe it — is that certain beekeepers have pledged to prevent colony collapse, both apoidea and homo sapien.

From New York Times • Jan. 10, 2024

Jonah pressed his pencil down too hard on the sapiens part of homo sapiens, and the lead snapped.

From "Found" by Margaret Peterson Haddix