1. less than human in development, intelligence, or moral qualities
Usage: often considered offensive when applied to people
2. relating to or characteristic of beings below humans in evolutionary development
Usage: scientific or anthropological contexts

1. a being that is less than human
Usage: often considered offensive when applied to people

Examples

• The scientist studied subhuman primates to understand evolution.
• Living in subhuman conditions, the prisoners suffered greatly.
• The dictator’s propaganda portrayed enemies as subhuman creatures.
• Archaeologists discovered subhuman fossils dating back millions of years.
• The novel depicted a future where subhumans lived underground.
• Critics called the treatment of workers subhuman and inhumane.
• The research focused on subhuman intelligence in early hominids.