'anthropoid' originates from Greek, specifically the words 'anthrōpos' and 'oeidēs', where 'anthrōpos' meant 'human' and 'oeidēs' meant 'resembling'.

'anthropoid' changed from the New Latin word 'Anthropoides' (from Greek 'anthrōpoeidēs') and eventually became the modern English word 'anthropoid' in the mid-19th century as a scientific term.

Initially, it meant 'resembling a human', but over time it evolved into current usage also referring specifically to members of the higher primates (apes) and to describe humanlike forms.