humanoid

American  

[hyoo-muh-noid, yoo-] / ˈhyu məˌnɔɪd, ˈyu- /

adjective

1. having human characteristics or form; resembling human beings.

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noun

1. a humanoid being.

   to search for humanoids in outer space.

humanoid British  

/ ˈhjuːməˌnɔɪd /

adjective

1. like a human being in appearance

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noun

1. a being with human rather than anthropoid characteristics

2. (in science fiction) a robot or creature resembling a human being

Etymology

Origin of humanoid

First recorded in 1915–20; human + -oid

Explanation

Something that's humanoid looks or acts like a real, live human being — but it's not. A humanoid robot is one that's designed to resemble a person. Anthropologists coined the word humanoid in the 19th century, adding the suffix -oid, or "like," to human. Scientists once used it to talk about humanlike traits in non-human organisms, but today it nearly always describes an automaton or robot. In the Star Wars universe, droids like C-3PO are humanoid, while R2-D2, who doesn’t have arms and legs or a recognizable face, is not.

Example Sentences

Tesla’s future hinges on AI applications like FSD, robo-taxis, and humanoid robots, with Optimus Gen 3 expected this year.

From Barron's • May 12, 2026

Other humanoid robots come to life and show off their kung-fu or funky dance moves.

From BBC • May 12, 2026

“The U.S. is focused on achieving AGI, while China is focused on diffusion and applications of AI into the rest of their economy — manufacturing, humanoid robotics, all aspects of the internet of things.”

From Los Angeles Times • May 11, 2026

She watches a humanoid robot totter around a demonstration kitchen until it trips on a chair and clatters to the ground.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 8, 2026

I saw monsters patrolling the upper decks of the ship—dracaenas snake-women, hellhounds, giants, and the humanoid seal- demons known as telkhines—but we zipped by so fast, none of them raised the alarm.

From "The Last Olympian" by Rick Riordan