homo

/ˌhoʊˈmoʊ/

/ˈhʌʊməʊ/

Other forms: homos

The genus that includes modern humans is called Homo. "Homo sapiens" are modern humans. Our ancestors had names like "Homo neanderthalensis" and "Homo erectus."

Homo is a Latin word that means man, or human. When it is used as a prefix, as in "homosexual," it comes from the Greek word homos, meaning the same. It is from the word "homosexual" that the noun homo is shortened and takes its second meaning — a derogatory term for a homosexual or gay man. Its use is offensive, and you should use other terms instead. It is spelled with a lowercase h in this use.

Definitions of homo

1. noun

   any living or extinct member of the family Hominidae characterized by superior intelligence, articulate speech, and erect carriage
   synonyms: human, human being, man

   types:

   human beings, human race, humanity, humankind, humans, man, mankind, world

   all of the living human inhabitants of the earth

   Homo erectus

   extinct species of primitive hominid with upright stature but small brain

   Homo soloensis

   extinct primitive hominid of late Pleistocene; Java; formerly Javanthropus

   Homo habilis

   extinct species of upright East African hominid having some advanced humanlike characteristics

   Homo sapiens

   the only surviving hominid; species to which modern man belongs; bipedal primate having language and ability to make and use complex tools; brain volume at least 1400 cc

   Homo sapiens neanderthalensis, Neandertal, Neandertal man, Neanderthal, Neanderthal man

   extinct robust human of Middle Paleolithic in Europe and western Asia

   Homo rhodesiensis, Rhodesian man

   a primitive hominid resembling Neanderthal man but living in Africa

   Java man, Trinil man

   fossil remains found in Java; formerly called Pithecanthropus erectus

   Peking man

   fossils found near Beijing, China; they were lost during World War II

   Solo man

   early man of late Pleistocene; skull resembles that of Neanderthal man but with smaller cranial capacity; found in Java

   Cro-magnon

   extinct human of Upper Paleolithic in Europe

   Boskop man

   possible early Homo sapiens represented by a cranium found in the Transvaal; formerly considered a separate species

   Homo sapiens sapiens, modern man

   subspecies of Homo sapiens; includes all modern races

   type of:

   hominid

   a primate of the family Hominidae