prehuman
1 of 2adjective
pre·hu·man (ˈ)prē-ˈhyü-mən 
-ˈyü-
1
: antedating the appearance of human beings
2
: of, relating to, or being an extinct primate and especially an extinct hominid that resembles or is ancestral to humans
prehuman
2 of 2noun
: an extinct primate and especially an extinct hominid that resembles or is ancestral to humans
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web
Steven Ashley, Scientific American, 23 Apr. 2018 David P. Barash, WSJ, 16 June 2021 His greed is hard-wired, a genetic inheritance, a prehuman trait that this human has turned into a rage for power. New York Times, 30 Nov. 2020 The researchers have proposed testing prehuman fossils for the presence or absence of this sialic acid. San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 July 2019 Neu5Gc was lost when the mutation in prehumans inactivated a gene called CMAH, functional in other animals. San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 July 2019 The shadows of many prehuman civilizations could, in principle, lurk hidden in such subtleties. Steven Ashley, Scientific American, 23 Apr. 2018 See More
Adjective
The shadows of many prehuman civilizations could, in principle, lurk hidden in such subtleties. Steven Ashley, Scientific American, 23 Apr. 2018 Noun
Probably not, given that the earliest prehuman bipeds were more forest-dwelling. David P. Barash, WSJ, 16 June 2021 His greed is hard-wired, a genetic inheritance, a prehuman trait that this human has turned into a rage for power. New York Times, 30 Nov. 2020 The researchers have proposed testing prehuman fossils for the presence or absence of this sialic acid. San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 July 2019 Neu5Gc was lost when the mutation in prehumans inactivated a gene called CMAH, functional in other animals. San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 July 2019 The shadows of many prehuman civilizations could, in principle, lurk hidden in such subtleties. Steven Ashley, Scientific American, 23 Apr. 2018 See More Word History
First Known Use
Adjective
1844, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Noun
1922, in the meaning defined above