humanoid n.
a non-human being that has a human-like bodily form
Robotics
Aliens
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1940
page image
Isaac Asimov
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I have here…the official report from Alpha Centauri, on whose fifth planet the Humanoids of Sol have landed.
Homo Sol in Astounding Science-Fiction Sept. 118/1 -
1947
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Jack Williamson
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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.
With Folded Hands… in Astounding Science Fiction July 42/1
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1953
Robert A. Heinlein
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Martians in trefoil sunglasses and respirators, humanoids from Beta Corvi III, things with exoskeletons from Allah knew where.
Starman Jones (1975) iv. 48
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1962
Marion Zimmer Bradley
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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.
Planet Savers in Planet Savers/Sword of Aldones (1982) ii. 18
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1969
Marion Zimmer Bradley
bibliography
Behind him one of the slab-faced humanoids moved, weapon at the ready.
Brass Dragon (1980) viii. 142
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1970
Gordon R. Dickson
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His last fight, with a dark-skinned humanoid named Henaoa, had take all of Miles' strength and skill to win.
Hour of Horde viii. 107
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1983
Sondra Marshak
Myrna Culbreath
bibliography
Also one primitive humanoid, about our size—who dies at an early age.
Triangle i.13
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1985
Margaret Wander Bonanno
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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.
Dwellers in the Crucible Prologue 4
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1992
Peter David
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Phaser blasts can stop them but not on lower settings. Ranges that stun the Sindareen can severely injure, even kill other humanoids.
Imzadi xxiv. 189
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2006
S. M. Stirling
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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.
Sky People xi. 237
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.