'hominoid' originates from New Latin, specifically the word 'Hominoides', where Latin 'homo' meant 'man' and the suffix '-oid' (from Greek '-oeidēs') meant 'resembling'.

'hominoid' was formed in scientific/Neo-Latin usage (from Greek-derived suffix '-oeidēs') and entered modern English in the 19th century as the term for members of Hominoidea.

Initially it meant 'resembling humans' (literally 'man-like'); over time it became a technical term referring specifically to the group Hominoidea (humans and apes).