sapiens

[sey-pee-uhnz]

adjective

1. of, relating to, or resembling modern humans (Homo sapiens ).

Word History and Origins

Origin of sapiens¹

Borrowed into English from New Latin around 1935–40

Example Sentences

A million-year-old human skull found in China suggests that our species, Homo sapiens, began to emerge at least half a million years earlier than we thought, researchers are claiming in a new study.

From BBC

That sapiens is Latin for “wise” can just seem like an ironic joke.

From Los Angeles Times

At least on this planet, only members of homo sapiens are freaky enough to be entertained by a cat dressed as an avocado.

From Salon

The research for the first time pinpoints a short period 48,000 years ago when Homo sapiens interbred with Neanderthals after leaving Africa, after which they went on to expand into the wider world.

From BBC

“Homo sapiens is a unique species in that our vastly superior intelligence does not seem, in the majority of individuals at least, to inhibit irrational destruction of its own species,” dos Santos told Salon.

From Salon