1. Extinct primate ancestors of humans that lived before the emergence of the genus Homo; early hominins such as Australopithecus.
Usage: plural form; anthropology/paleontology term; sometimes used interchangeably with 'early hominins' or 'proto-hominids'

Examples

• Scientists study prehominids to understand the evolutionary path leading to modern humans.
• Fossil evidence of prehominids has been discovered in Africa, particularly in the Great Rift Valley.
• Prehominids exhibited bipedalism, a key trait that distinguished them from other primates.
• The skeletal structure of prehominids shows a gradual transition toward human-like characteristics.
• Researchers compare the brain sizes of various prehominids to track cognitive development over time.