Heidelberg man

noun

Hei·​del·​berg man ˈhī-dᵊl-ˌbərg- How to pronounce Heidelberg man (audio)
-ˌberg-
: an Early Pleistocene hominid known from a massive fossilized jaw with distinctly human dentition and classified with the direct ancestor (Homo erectus) of modern humans

Word History

Etymology

Heidelberg, Germany

First Known Use

1920, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Heidelberg man was in 1920

Dictionary Entries Near Heidelberg man

Cite this Entry

“Heidelberg man.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Heidelberg%20man. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!