# sapiens

/ˈseɪpiənz/ (US) · CEFR C1 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/sapiens
Updated: 2026-05-18

## Definition

describing a person who has a high level of intelligence and the ability to think about complex ideas. It is most often used in scientific names to talk about humans.

For teachers: relating to or characteristic of Homo sapiens, the species to which modern humans belong. Often used in biological or psychological contexts to describe advanced cognitive traits.

## Examples

- Scientists are still researching how the cognitive abilities of Homo sapiens evolved over thousands of years.
- The transition from earlier hominins to Homo sapiens is marked by a significant increase in brain size and the development of complex language systems.

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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.