humanoid

American  

[hyoo-muh-noid, yoo-] / ˈhju məˌnɔɪd, ˈju- /

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

See Examples For:

humanoid

Chinese technology firms have rapidly developed humanoid robots to be used in settings including factories and homes.

From BBC ● Jul. 29, 2026

US President Donald Trump's administration on Tuesday added humanoid and quadruped robots to a list of products and companies that are banned from being imported into the United States on national security grounds.

From Barron's ● Jul. 28, 2026

Most humanoid robots sold in the US are manufactured abroad, particularly in China.

From Barron's ● Jul. 28, 2026

She receives a strange invitation in the mail from REbirth, a company that claims to create humanoid replicas of deceased loved ones.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 24, 2026

The other was a giant humanoid like a Cyclops, but he was surrounded by a flurry of limbs.

From "The Last Olympian" by Rick Riordan