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Definition of Neanderthal
Medically reviewed by Dr. Otari Nergadze, Neurosurgeon | Updated: January 2026
Neanderthal: An extinct subspecies of Homo sapiens who lived in Europe and the area around the Mediterranean from 100,000 to 30,000 years ago. Study of mitochondrial DNA indicates that Neanderthal man made little or no contribution to the genome of modern humans.
Named after Neanderthal (Neander valley) near Dusseldorf, where bones of a Neanderthal man were first discovered in 1856.