paleoanthropology

1 of 2

noun (1)

pa·​leo·​an·​thro·​pol·​o·​gy ˌpā-lē-ō-ˌan(t)-thrə-ˈpä-lə-jē How to pronounce paleoanthropology (audio)
especially British ˌpa-
: a branch of anthropology dealing with fossil hominids
paleoanthropological
ˌpā-lē-ō-ˌan(t)-thrə-pə-ˈlä-ji-kəl How to pronounce paleoanthropology (audio)
especially British ˌpa-
adjective
paleoanthropologist
ˌpā-lē-ō-ˌan(t)-thrə-ˈpä-lə-jist How to pronounce paleoanthropology (audio)
especially British ˌpa-
noun

paleoanthropologist

2 of 2

noun (2)

pa·​leo·​anthropologist
: a specialist in paleoanthropology

Examples of paleoanthropology in a Sentence

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Noun
But experts from such diverse fields as paleoanthropology and nutrition are questioning these ideas. — Katharina Menne, Scientific American, 25 Oct. 2023 But until paleoanthropology can unpick the threads of facial evolution with greater precision, the chin will continue to elude us. — Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 24 Jan. 2026 In the world of paleoanthropology, there are splitters, who emphasize the differences between fossils, and lumpers, who emphasize the similarities. — Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 26 July 2025 Mysterious early human relatives The mountainous region of Spain where the fossils were found has been an important locale for paleoanthropology. — Katie Hunt, CNN, 12 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for paleoanthropology

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

paleo- + anthropology, probably after French paléoanthropologie

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1908, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of paleoanthropology was in 1908

Rhymes for paleoanthropology

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Browse Nearby Words

paleoanthropologist
paleoanthropology
Paleoanthropus
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Cite this Entry

“Paleoanthropology.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/paleoanthropology. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on paleoanthropology

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about paleoanthropology

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