'anthropoidea' originates from Greek, specifically the words 'anthrōpos' and 'eidos', where 'anthrōpos' meant 'human' and 'eidos' meant 'form'.

'anthropoidea' was formed in New Latin from Greek roots and adopted into scientific English taxonomy in the 19th century as the name for simian primates ('Anthropoidea').

Initially, it meant 'human-like form', but over time it evolved into its current taxonomic meaning referring to the group of simian primates (monkeys, apes, and humans).