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Glite Dictionary
🧑 Becoming human 🧬 Human evolution
hominization

hominization

9.9
The process by which early primates changed into modern humans
  • noun
  • /ˌhɒmɪnaɪˈzeɪʃən/
  • Specialized
translation icon : hominización
  • Hominization is a critical concept in anthropology, as it explains the gradual changes that shaped our species.

Examples

  • But our studies lead us to believe that the process of hominization may have begun independently of the drying of the environment.

    Academic text (1991)

  • The study of hominization explores how early primates evolved into modern humans over millions of years.

  • Researchers often debate the factors influencing hominization and how they contributed to human development.

Synonyms

evolution of man
vshominization
  • Specialized
1 4.0

Slow change from earlier animals to modern humans over millions of years

focuses specifically on evolution from earlier primates
anthropogenesis
vshominization
  • Specialized
9.9

The origin and early development of human beings

emphasizes evolution from earlier primates rather than general origin

Surface Forms

hominization singular
hominizations plural

Morphology

hominization = hominize (semi-transparent) = homin + ize + ation

The derivation is regular ('hominize' + '-ation') but 'homin-' is a Latin combining form (not a common standalone English word), so the connection is not fully obvious to average learners.

Etymology

Hominization comes from the Latin root homo meaning 'human' and the suffix -ization meaning 'the process'. So, hominization is the process of 'becoming human', which is why scientists use it for the evolution of humans from earlier primates.