Neanderthal man

American  

noun

1. a member of an extinct subspecies of powerful, physically robust humans, Homo sapiens neanderthalensis, that inhabited Europe and western and central Asia c100,000–40,000 b.c.

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Neanderthal man British  

noun

1. a type of primitive man, Homo neanderthalensis, or H. sapiens neanderthalensis, occurring throughout much of Europe in late Palaeolithic times: it is thought that they did not interbreed with other early humans and are not the ancestors of modern humans

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Etymology

Origin of Neanderthal man

First recorded in 1860–65

Example Sentences

A Neanderthal man is believed to have dipped his finger in red pigment to paint a nose on a pebble around 43,000 years ago.

From BBC • May 27, 2025

The specific Neanderthal skeleton that had convinced scientists our ancient cousins walked hunched over, for example, was revealed to have belonged to not just any Neanderthal, but an elderly Neanderthal man with arthritis.

From Slate • May 14, 2025

One of its biggest eruptions took place 39,000 years ago and might have led to the extinction of Neanderthal man, researchers say.

From Reuters • Oct. 5, 2023

It’s like you have Neanderthal man and Homo sapiens living together.

From Los Angeles Times • May 4, 2022

The next slender prop is the Neanderthal man, claimed to be 40,000 to 50,000 years old, although we are told that that is very uncertain.

From The Evolution of Man Scientifically Disproved In 50 Arguments by Williams, William A. (William Asbury)