Homo erectus

American  

[hoh-moh i-rek-tuhs] / ˈhoʊ moʊ ɪˈrɛk təs /

noun

1. the proposed extinct species of the human lineage that lived throughout most of the Pleistocene Epoch formerly known as Pithecanthropus erectus, having upright stature and a well-evolved postcranial skeleton, but with a smallish brain, low forehead, and protruding face: the first fossil specimen was discovered in Indonesia in 1891.

2. a fossil belonging to this species.

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Homo erectus British  

/ ɪˈrɛktəs /

noun

1. an extinct species of primitive man, able to walk upright See also Java man Peking man

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Homo erectus Scientific  

/ hō′mōĭ-rĕk′təs /

1. An extinct species of humans that lived during the Pleistocene Epoch from about 1.6 million years ago to 250,000 years ago. Homo erectus is associated mainly with stone tools of the Acheulian culture and was the first species of humans to master fire, although this skill may not have been widely practiced until late in its existence. Its remains have been found in Africa, Europe, and Asia, and it is widely thought to be the direct ancestor of modern humans.

2. ◆ The H. erectus remains from Africa are thought by some to evince significant differences in comparison to other H. erectus populations and thus to constitute a separate species called Homo ergaster. H. ergaster is sometimes further claimed to be the true ancestor of modern humans. The fossil evidence is not complete enough to definitively support these or many other claims concerning early Homo populations.

3. See also pithecanthropus sinanthropus

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Homo erectus Cultural  

1. An early ancestor of the human species that lived from about 1.8 million to 250,000 years ago. Homo erectus remains have been found in Africa, China, Europe, and Southeast Asia. Archaeological excavations have revealed that Homo erectus developed a cooperative hunting organization and the use of fire and may have had a spoken language.

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Etymology

Origin of Homo erectus

First recorded in 1970–75; from New Latin: literally “upright man”

Compare meaning

How does homo-erectus compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• Homo habilis vs. Homo erectus

Example Sentences

These include remains assigned to Homo erectus as well as Homo antecessor, a distinct species, with both dated to around one million years ago.

From Science Daily • Dec. 16, 2025

One idea is that DAN5 could reflect admixture between classic African Homo erectus and the earlier Homo habilis species.

From Science Daily • Dec. 16, 2025

When scientists found the skull, named Yunxian 2, they assumed it belonged to an earlier ancestor of ours, Homo erectus, the first large-brained humans.

From BBC • Sep. 25, 2025

Generally, our direct ancestors Homo erectus are thought to have used tools and eaten meat, whereas P. boisei, an evolutionary cousin, had larger jaws that are thought to have been used to chew mainly vegetation.

From Salon • Nov. 29, 2024

Although Homo erectus, the stage reached around 1.7 million years ago, was close to us modern humans in body size, its brain size was still barely half of ours.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond