anthropology

noun

an·​thro·​pol·​o·​gy ˌan(t)-thrə-ˈpä-lə-jē How to pronounce anthropology (audio)
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 adjective
anthropologically adverb
anthropologist noun

Did you know?

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 Jennifer Erickson, a professor of anthropology at Ball State University who testified against SB 202 to the House education committee last week, said the bill’s emphasis on faculty oversight could stifle academic freedom and constitute government overreach. Katie Wiseman, The Indianapolis Star, 26 Feb. 2024 Black cemeteries need more funding Antoinette Jackson, a professor of anthropology at the University of South Florida has helped identify over 140 African American burial grounds nationwide, but said there could be thousands. USA TODAY, 14 Feb. 2024 Although the study of anthropology dates back centuries, biological anthropology is a relatively new discipline made possible in the 1990s with the rise of computer tomography and other technology, says Timothy M. Ryan, professor and head of anthropology at Pennsylvania State University. Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Discover Magazine, 9 Feb. 2024 Farmer, a physician-anthropologist, left behind a remarkable legacy across multiple fields, including infectious diseases, medical anthropology and global public health. Joshua Cohen, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2024 An unprecedented number of women entered anthropology during the period between the world wars. Naï Zakharia, New York Times, 23 Dec. 2023 There’s a new class of scientific anthropology brewing in Los Angeles, one that isn’t merely centered around the human species but around another foreign primate that is often seen but rarely understood: the hot girl. Anna Tingley, Variety, 8 Dec. 2023 Christensen's remains were stored at the University of Indianapolis' forensic anthropology department when the coroner's office partnered with the DNA Doe Project to try to identify them. CBS News, 5 Dec. 2023 Smith, assistant professor of anthropology at the University of Alaska Anchorage, is very interested in the context in which mammoths appear in Kaska Dene stories. Jeanne Timmons, Ars Technica, 18 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'anthropology.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of anthropology was in 1593

Dictionary Entries Near anthropology

Cite this Entry

“Anthropology.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anthropology. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

anthropology

noun
an·​thro·​pol·​o·​gy ˌan(t)-thrə-ˈpäl-ə-jē How to pronounce anthropology (audio)
: the science of human beings and especially of their physical characteristics, their origin, their environment and social relations, and their culture
anthropological adjective
anthropologist noun

Medical Definition

anthropology

noun
an·​thro·​pol·​o·​gy ˌan(t)-thrə-ˈpäl-ə-jē How to pronounce anthropology (audio)
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 adjective
anthropologically adverb
anthropologist noun

More from Merriam-Webster on anthropology

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!