Homo sapiens

[ hoh-moh -sey-pee-uhnz ]

/ ˈhoʊ moʊ ˈseɪ pi ənz /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for Homo sapiens on Thesaurus.com

Definition of Homo sapiens

noun

the species of bipedal primates to which modern humans (Homo sapiens sapiens) belong, characterized by a large brain, a nearly vertical forehead, a skeletal build lighter and teeth smaller than earlier humans, and dependence upon language and the creation and utilization of complex tools: the species has existed for about 200,000 years.See also Boskop man, Cro-Magnon, Marmes man, Niah Cave.

humankind.

COMPARE MEANINGS

Click for a side-by-side comparison of meanings. Use the word comparison feature to learn the differences between similar and commonly confused words.

QUIZ

GOOSES. GEESES. I WANT THIS QUIZ ON PLURAL NOUNS!

Test how much you really know about regular and irregular plural nouns with this quiz.

Question 1 of 9

Which of the following nouns has an irregular plural form?

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of Homo sapiens

First recorded in 1770–75; from New Latin: literally, “rational man”; see origin at Homo, sapient

Words nearby Homo sapiens

homopteran, homopterous, homorganic, Homo rhodesiensis, homoromantic, Homo sapiens, Homo sapiens idaltu, Homo sapiens sapiens, homoscedastic, homoserine, homosexual

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use Homo sapiens in a sentence

Understanding odds has never been a strength of Homo sapiens.
A Doctor Explains Why Cruise Ships Should Be Banned|Kent Sepkowitz|November 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In some very real sense, 21st-century Hollywood has forgotten how to use living, breathing Homo sapiens in action movies.
Game of Thrones’ 'The Watchers on the Wall': The Battle of Castle Black Is One For the Ages|Andrew Romano|June 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The results are in and Homo habilis, our primate forebear, has won another round.
The Top 10 Diets of 2013 Are All Useless (Except to Book Publishers)|Kent Sepkowitz|December 29, 2013|DAILY BEAST
During Koch's 1977 mayoral primary against Mario, posters of mysterious origin appeared saying, “Vote for Cuomo, Not the Homo”.
Ed Koch Goes Out in Style|Lloyd Grove|February 4, 2013|DAILY BEAST

But in terms of beneficial public-health impact, nothing Homo sapiens has invented thus far outpaces the vaccine.
Get Your Damn Flu Shot|Kent Sepkowitz|January 18, 2013|DAILY BEAST
He'd reveal definite indications of belonging to Homo Sapiens only when drinking beer and talking about his holes.
The Holes and John Smith|Edward W. Ludwig
But what about the other doctrine, which he declares to be a part of the same programme — Homo Mensura — the Protagorean formula?
Plato and the Other Companions of Sokrates, 3rd ed. Volume III (of 4)|George Grote
He at the same time announces that his theory rests upon a principle opposed to the “Homo Mensura” of Protagoras.
Plato and the Other Companions of Sokrates, 3rd ed. Volume III (of 4)|George Grote
At an early part of the period to which this chapter belongs, the famous volume entitled “Ecce Homo” was published.
Recollections of a Long Life|John Stoughton
His last book, “Ecce Homo,” an autobiography, contains all the premonitory symptoms of the threatening tragedy.
German Problems and Personalities|Charles Sarolea

British Dictionary definitions for Homo sapiens

Homo sapiens

/ (ˈsæpɪˌɛnz) /

noun

the specific name of modern man; the only extant species of the genus Homo. This species also includes extinct types of primitive man such as Cro-Magnon manSee also man (def. 5)

Word Origin for Homo sapiens

New Latin, from Latin homo man + sapiens wise

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for Homo sapiens

Homo sapiens

[ sā′pē-ənz ]

The modern species of humans. Archaic forms of Homo sapiens probably evolved around 300,000 years ago or earlier in Africa, and anatomically modern fossils are known from about 100,000 years ago. All humans now living belong to the subspecies Homo sapiens sapiens. The closest living relative of Homo sapiens is the chimpanzee. See more at archaic Homo sapiens Cro-Magnon Neanderthal.

Cultural definitions for Homo sapiens

Homo sapiens

[ (hoh-moh say-pee-uhnz) ]

The biological classification of modern humans. Homo sapiens is Latin for “the wise human” or “the clever human.” The earliest Homo sapiens was Neanderthal, who developed about 150,000 years ago. Sometimes modern humans are further classified into the subspecies of Homo sapiens neanderthalis (Neanderthals) and Homo sapiens sapiens (Cro-Magnons and present-day humans). (See Linnean classification.)