paleoanthropology

[ pey-lee-oh-an-thruh-pol-uh-jee or, esp. British, pal-ee- ]
/ ˌpeɪ li oʊˌæn θrəˈpɒl ə dʒi or, esp. British, ˌpæl i- /

noun

the study of the origins and predecessors of the present human species, using fossils and other remains.

Origin of paleoanthropology

First recorded in 1915–20; paleo- + anthropology

OTHER WORDS FROM paleoanthropology

pa·le·o·an·thro·pol·o·gist, noun pa·le·o·an·thro·po·log·i·cal [pey-lee-oh-an-thruh-puh-loj-i-kuh l or, esp. British, pal-ee-] /ˌpeɪ li oʊˌæn θrə pəˈlɒdʒ ɪ kəl or, esp. British, ˌpæl i-/, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for paleoanthropology

Scientific definitions for paleoanthropology

paleoanthropology
[ pā′lē-ō-ăn′thrə-pŏlə-jē ]

The scientific study of extinct members of the genus Homo sapiens by means of their fossil remains.