# Lucy

/ˈɫusi/ (US) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/lucy
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Definition

the famous skeleton of an early human relative found in Africa. She lived about 3.2 million years ago and helped scientists understand how humans started walking on two legs.

For teachers: the common name given to AL 288-1, a fossilised partial skeleton of the hominin species Australopithecus afarensis. Discovered in Ethiopia in 1974, it provides critical evidence for the transition to bipedalism in human evolution.

## Examples

- Scientists studied Lucy to learn how early humans walked.
- The discovery of Lucy challenged previous theories by proving that early hominins walked upright long before they developed large brains.
- While other specimens have been found since, Lucy remains the most iconic fossil in paleoanthropology due to the remarkable completeness of her skeletal remains and her pivotal role in mapping human ancestry.

## Usage notes

- Used as a proper noun to refer to a specific archaeological specimen; typically takes no article.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.