Homo sapiens

[ hoh-moh sey-pee-uhnz ]

noun

1. 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. Boskop man, Cro-Magnon, Marmes man, Niah Cave.
2. humankind.

Homo sapiens

/ ˈsæpɪˌɛnz /

noun

1. 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 man See also man

Homo sapiens

/ sā′pē-ənz /

1. 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.
2. See more at archaic Homo sapiens

Homo sapiens

1. 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 .)

Word History and Origins

Origin of Homo sapiens¹

First recorded in 1770–75; from New Latin: literally, “rational man”; Homo ( def ), sapient ( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of Homo sapiens¹

New Latin, from Latin homo man + sapiens wise

Example Sentences

Understanding odds has never been a strength of Homo sapiens.

From The Daily Beast

In some very real sense, 21st-century Hollywood has forgotten how to use living, breathing Homo sapiens in action movies.

From The Daily Beast

But in terms of beneficial public-health impact, nothing Homo sapiens has invented thus far outpaces the vaccine.

From The Daily Beast

He'd reveal definite indications of belonging to Homo Sapiens only when drinking beer and talking about his holes.

From Project Gutenberg

But an extremely primitive race has survived until the present time to demonstrate the original type of Homo sapiens.

From Project Gutenberg

There are structural differences so far removed from ours that they could not possibly be Homo Sapiens.

From Project Gutenberg

Was the oldest Homo sapiens pliocene or miocene, or yet more ancient?

From Project Gutenberg

Man (Homo sapiens) is the only native representative of this order in our country.

From Project Gutenberg