Anthropomorphidae

/ænθroʊpoʊˌmɔːrˈfɪdeɪ/ noun

Definition

A family classification in biology (historically used) that was supposed to include human-like or humanoid organisms, though the term is largely obsolete in modern taxonomy.

Etymology

From 'anthropomorphic' + '-idae' (taxonomic family suffix). An archaic zoological term from 19th-century natural history when classification systems were less rigorous.

Kelly Says

Early naturalists struggled with how to classify humans—should we be in a family with apes, or separate?—and invented names like this before DNA revealed we're just one species among many apes, all sharing a recent common ancestor!

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.