humanoid n.

a non-human being that has a human-like bodily form

Robotics

Aliens

  • 1940 I. Asimov Homo Sol in Astounding Science-Fiction Sept. 118/1 page image Isaac Asimov bibliography

    I have here…the official report from Alpha Centauri, on whose fifth planet the Humanoids of Sol have landed.

  • 1947 J. Williamson With Folded Hands… in Astounding Science Fiction July 42/1 page image Jack Williamson bibliography

    He stood hunched and swaying, no more than a shrunken human husk, gasping painfully for life, staring wildly into the blind steel eyes of the humanoid.

  • 1953 R. A. Heinlein Starman Jones (1975) iv. 48 Robert A. Heinlein bibliography

    Martians in trefoil sunglasses and respirators, humanoids from Beta Corvi III, things with exoskeletons from Allah knew where.

  • 1962 M. Z. Bradley Planet Savers in Planet Savers/Sword of Aldones (1982) ii. 18 Marion Zimmer Bradley bibliography

    With the small and delicate humanoids who had been my playfellows, I had gathered the nuts and buds and trapped the small arboreal animals they used for food.

  • 1969 M. Z. Bradley Brass Dragon (1980) viii. 142 Marion Zimmer Bradley bibliography

    Behind him one of the slab-faced humanoids moved, weapon at the ready.

  • 1970 G. R. Dickson Hour of Horde viii. 107 Gordon R. Dickson bibliography

    His last fight, with a dark-skinned humanoid named Henaoa, had take all of Miles' strength and skill to win.

  • 1983 S. Marshak & M. Culbreath Triangle i.13 Sondra Marshak Myrna Culbreath bibliography

    Also one primitive humanoid, about our size—who dies at an early age.

  • 1985 M. W. Bonanno Dwellers in the Crucible Prologue 4 Margaret Wander Bonanno bibliography

    In the transporter room where the first shore leave party had gathered, three crewmen whom the humanoids aboard took to be Vulcans exchanged lightning glances.

  • 1992 P. David Imzadi xxiv. 189 Peter David bibliography

    Phaser blasts can stop them but not on lower settings. Ranges that stun the Sindareen can severely injure, even kill other humanoids.

  • 2006 S. M. Stirling Sky People xi. 237 S. M. Stirling bibliography

    Marc drew and shot, drew and shot, distantly aware that he was glad of the activity distracting him from the fact that scores of gorilla-strong humanoids were rushing at him with intent to kill him and eat his flesh, and not necessarily in that order.


Research requirements

antedating 1940

Earliest cite

Isaac Asimov, Homo Sol

Research History
Mike Christie submitted a 1947 cite from Jack Williamson.
Imran Ghory submitted a cite from a reprint of Isaac Asimov's "Homo Sol"; Mike Christie verified it in the 1940 magazine appearance.

The OED has cites for a noun usage back to 1925, in a sense that distinguishes "humanoid" from "anthropoid", but the usage in the sf sense in the OED is from 1958.

Last modified 2020-12-16 04:08:47
In the compilation of some entries, HDSF has drawn extensively on corresponding entries in OED.