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Glite Dictionary
Hominidae

Hominidae

9.9
A family of great apes that includes humans, chimpanzees, gorillas, and orangutans
  • noun
  • /ˌhɒmɪˈneɪdeɪ/
  • Specialized
translation icon : Hominidae
  • The unique traits of the Hominidae family, such as advanced social behavior, distinguish them from other primates.

Examples

  • The Hominidae family includes species like humans, chimpanzees, and gorillas.

  • Bipedalism, the hallmark of the Hominidae, lends itself to wandering.

    Academic text (1999)

  • Art making is now species-specific because humans are the only surviving species in the genus Homo of the family Hominidae.

    Academic text (1998)

  • The family of humans and their immediate ancestors—known as the Hominidae, a subset of the great apes—is characterized by large brains and full bipedalism.

    Academic text (1999)

  • Scientists study the Hominidae to understand human evolution and our relationship with great apes.

Synonyms

hominid
vsHominidae
  • Specialized
12 7.6

A member of the group that includes humans, chimpanzees and gorillas

is the group level term rather than a single individual member
family Hominidae
vsHominidae
  • Specialized
6.3

A group of animals that includes modern humans and their close extinct ancestors

is broader by also including other great apes within the same group

Compounds

family Hominidae
  • Specialized
6.3

A group of animals that includes modern humans and their close extinct ancestors

Surface Forms

Hominidae singular
Hominidae plural

Morphology

Hominidae = hominid (opaque) = homin + idae

Formed using the specialized Latin taxonomic suffix '-idae' (family), which is not a productive or familiar English suffix for general learners, so the meaning is not derivable by typical B1 learners.

Etymology

Hominidae comes from the Latin root homo, meaning 'human', plus the animal family ending -idae, meaning 'family'. So Hominidae literally means the 'human family' and today it names the group of animals that includes modern people and our close apes like chimpanzees, gorillas, and orangutans.