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

Out of 182 samples of seafood, 180 of them were polluted with anthropogenic particles. —Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 8 Jan. 2025

Carbon dioxide values continue to rise globally, and climate continues to change, naturally and through these anthropogenic contributions. —Marshall Shepherd, Forbes.com, 20 July 2025

Yet these same conditions—distance from anthropogenic light sources, a mountainous altitude above the cloud line, a crisp desert atmosphere—provide the baselines for Rubin to access the faintest of faint celestial objects. —Michael Jones McKean, The Atlantic, 23 June 2025

So the attribution of anthropogenic climate change was proven beyond reasonable doubt, with 97% acceptance among scientists. —Oliver Swainston, Space.com, 28 June 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