anthropology

noun

an·​thro·​pol·​o·​gy ˌan(t)-thrə-ˈpä-lə-jē 

1

: the science of human beings

especially : the study of human beings and their ancestors through time and space and in relation to physical character, environmental and social relations, and culture

2

: theology dealing with the origin, nature, and destiny of human beings

anthropological

ˌan(t)-thrə-pə-ˈlä-ji-kəl 

adjective

anthropologically

ˌan(t)-thrə-pə-ˈlä-ji-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

anthropologist

ˌan(t)-thrə-ˈpä-lə-jist 

noun

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The Origin of Anthropology

The word anthropology dates back to the late 16th century, but it was not until the 19th century that it was applied to the academic discipline that now bears its name. In the United States, this field of study is typically divided into four distinct branches: physical (or biological) anthropology, archaeology, cultural (or social) anthropology, and linguistic anthropology.

Anthropology is from the New Latin word anthropologia (“the study of humanity”) and shares its ultimate root in Greek, anthrōpos (“human being”), with a number of other words in English, such as anthropomorphize, philanthropy, and misanthrope.

Examples of anthropology in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Over a period of seven years, De Leon, a professor of anthropology, spent time embedded with a group of people like those depicted in his book. —Chris Vognar, Los Angeles Times, 21 Dec. 2024

The Syrian people had been so terrorized and disenfranchised, so thoroughly cut off from their missing relatives, that they were reduced to a kind of ad-hoc forensic anthropology. —Jon Lee Anderson, The New Yorker, 11 Dec. 2024

In The Language Puzzle, archeologist Steven Mithen draws on the latest research from linguistics, anthropology, psychology and genetics to guide the reader through some 1.6 million years of hominin evolution. —Joe Spring, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 Dec. 2024

Already an enormous box-office success, Moana 2 unfortunately confirms the social impact of Disney’s faux anthropology. —Armond White, National Review, 4 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin anthropologia "study of humanity, science of human nature," from anthropo- anthropo- + -logia -logy

First Known Use

1593, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing anthropology

• cultural anthropology
• physical anthropology

Kids Definition

anthropology

noun

an·​thro·​pol·​o·​gy ˌan(t)-thrə-ˈpäl-ə-jē 

: the science of human beings and especially of their physical characteristics, their origin, their environment and social relations, and their culture

anthropological

-pə-ˈläj-i-kəl 

adjective

anthropologist

-ˈpäl-ə-jəst 

noun

Medical Definition

anthropology

noun

an·​thro·​pol·​o·​gy ˌan(t)-thrə-ˈpäl-ə-jē 

plural anthropologies

: the science of humans

especially : the study of humans in relation to distribution, origin, classification, and relationship of races, physical character, environmental and social relations, and culture

anthropological

-pə-ˈläj-i-kəl 

adjective

anthropologically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

anthropologist

ˌan(t)-thrə-ˈpäl-ə-jəst 

noun