quasihumanoid

Quasihumanoid is a term used in speculative fiction, robotics, and critical discourse to describe entities that resemble humans in form or behavior but are not fully human. The word combines quasi- (almost) with humanoid (human-like) and is used to distinguish near-human beings or machines from true humans or from fully nonhuman creatures.

In anatomy and design, quasihumanoids typically retain a humanoid silhouette—two arms, two legs, a head atop a torso—but include nonstandard features such as augmented limbs, extra digits, nonbiological skin textures, or nonhuman sensory apparatus. They may walk on two legs or use alternative locomotion; cognitive architectures can be humanlike or based on different processing models.

In literature, film, and other media, quasihumanoids are often used to explore themes of identity, ethics, and sentience, without presenting fully human proxies. They can serve as devices to probe rights, personhood, and the boundaries of humanity while allowing authors to examine social and philosophical questions without declaring pure human status.

In robotics and prosthetics design, quasihumanoid forms can offer practical advantages when interacting with human-centered environments while avoiding some limitations of full humanoid robots. They may incorporate nonstandard joints, modular components, or adaptive control systems to balance familiarity with functional diversity.

Related terms include android, cyborg, hominid, and non-humanoid robot.