anthropogenic

adjective

an·​thro·​po·​gen·​ic ˌan(t)-thrə-pə-ˈje-nik 

: of, relating to, or resulting from the influence of human beings on nature

anthropogenic pollutants

anthropogenically

ˌan(t)-thrə-pə-ˈje-ni-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Examples of anthropogenic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Except, our anthropogenic footprint is quite different than anything going on when the dinosaurs were around. —Marshall Shepherd, Forbes.com, 22 Apr. 2025

Latitudinal gradients of snow contamination in the Rocky Mountains associated with anthropogenic sources National Environmental Education Foundation. —Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 2 Apr. 2025

Their presence is indicative of a healthy, functioning ecosystem—a balance increasingly disrupted by anthropogenic pressures. —Scott Travers, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2025

Human activities, from powering cars and appliances to simply existing (think body heat), give off what’s called anthropogenic heat. —Ula Chrobak, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

anthropo- + -genic

First Known Use

circa 1883, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for anthropogenic

• angiogenic
• atherogenic
• carcinogenic
• cardiogenic
• embryogenic
• iatrogenic
• immunogenic
• metallogenic
• methanogenic
• nonpathogenic
• odontogenic
• osteogenic

Medical Definition

anthropogenic

adjective

an·​thro·​po·​gen·​ic -pə-ˈjen-ik 

: of, relating to, or resulting from the influence of human beings on nature

anthropogenic sources of pollution