homo

¹

[ hoh-moh ]

noun

, Slang: Extremely Disparaging and Offensive.

, plural ho·mos.

1. a contemptuous term used to refer to a gay person, especially a gay man.

Homo

²

[ hoh-moh ]

noun

1. the genus of bipedal primates that includes modern humans and several extinct forms, distinguished by their large brains and a dependence upon tools. Compare archaic Homo.
2. Facetious. (used in made-up taxonomic expressions to denote a type of human being):

   The door opens, and in walks Homo stupidus.

homo-

³

1. a combining form appearing in loanwords from Greek, where it meant “same” ( homology ); on this model, used in the formation of compound words ( homomorphic ).

Homo

¹

/ ˈhəʊməʊ /

noun

1. a genus of hominids including modern man (see Homo sapiens ) and several extinct species of primitive man, including Homo habilis and Homo erectus

homo

²

/ ˈhəʊməʊ /

noun

1. informal.
   homogenized milk

homo

³

/ ˈhəʊməʊ /

noun

1. informal.
   short for homosexual

homo-

⁴

combining_form

1. being the same or like Compare hetero-

   homologous

   homosexual

homo–

1. A prefix meaning “same,” as in homogamous, having the same kind of flower.

Homo

1. The genus to which human beings belong. The genus Homo includes Neanderthals and other hominids closely related to today's humans, such as Homo erectus.

Word History and Origins

Origin of homo¹

First recorded in 1920–25; by shortening of homosexual ( def )

Origin of homo²

First recorded in 1590–1600; from Latin homō “man, human,” literally “the earthly one,” derivative of humus “earth, ground, soil”; related to Latin hūmānus “pertaining to man, human”; akin to Old English guma, Old Irish duine, Welsh dyn, Old Lithuanian žmuõ “human being”; humus, human

Origin of homo³

< Greek, combining form of homós one and the same; akin to Sanskrit sama-; same

Word History and Origins

Origin of homo¹

Latin: man

Origin of homo²

via Latin from Greek, from homos same

Example Sentences

His brand of toiletry involves writing stories for the absolutely lowest common denominator of homo sapiens.

From Salon

Musk is convinced of this, in part, because he fears artificial intelligence will very soon become all-powerful and inclined to exterminate homo sapiens.

From Seattle Times

The script’s ridiculous rationale — which our hero repeatedly intones like he’s hypnotizing us to believe it — is that certain beekeepers have pledged to prevent colony collapse, both apoidea and homo sapien.

From New York Times

Directed by Mark Mannucci, “Unknown: Cave of Bones,” focuses on a recent expedition into a South African cave that contains skeletal remains of the ancient human relative homo naledi.

From New York Times

There’s one species, however, that continues to raise concerns among scientists: homo sapiens.

From Los Angeles Times