hominin

noun

hom·​i·​nin ˈhä-mə-nən How to pronounce hominin (audio)
-ˌnin
: any of a taxonomic tribe (Hominini) of hominids that includes recent humans together with extinct ancestral and related forms

Examples of hominin in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
So far, scientists studying hominin remains on the continent have only been able to successfully sequence DNA from material that’s less than 20,000 years old. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 May 2025 The artifact could be the oldest complete hominin fingerprint ever found, according to Herrero. Rosa Rahimi, CNN Money, 29 May 2025 What this means is that there may be lots more hominin bones in people's floors and showers. Ashley Belanger – May 22, ArsTechnica, 22 May 2025 This naturally occurring pigment is composed of iron oxide, clay, and silica and has been used by several species of hominins for thousands of years. Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 16 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for hominin

Word History

Etymology

New Latin Hominini, from Homin-, Homo + -ini, tribe suffix, from Latin -inus -ine entry 1

First Known Use

1989, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hominin was in 1989

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hominin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hominin. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!