anthropology

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

Definition of anthropology

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

Other Words from anthropology The Origin of Anthropology Example Sentences Learn More about anthropology

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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 Panusaya Sithijirawattanakul, a 21-year-old sociology and anthropology student at Thammasat University, called for sweeping changes that would decriminalize insulting the royal family, curb its powers and make palace spending auditable. ... — Feliz Solomon, WSJ, "Questioning Thailand’s Monarchy Was Off-Limits. Now Protesters Are Doing Just That.," 15 Aug. 2020 Her department no longer requires anthropology majors to attend a summer field school. — Lizzie Wade, Science | AAAS, "Fed-up archaeologists aim to fix ‘frat party’ atmosphere at field schools," 11 Aug. 2020 The person tweeting from @Sciencing_Bi also claimed in early June that she had been assaulted by a Harvard anthropology professor named Theodore Bestor. — Washington Examiner, "Twitter suspends MeTooSTEM founder amid claims she created a fake Twitter persona of a Native American professor with COVID-19," 4 Aug. 2020 Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, and Dartmouth anthropology associate professor Laura Ogden, some Anishnaabe people view plants as persons and the arrival of new plants as a natural form of migration, which is not inherently good or bad. — Jenny Morber Ensia, Smithsonian Magazine, "Should Plants and Animals That Relocate Because of Climate Change Be Considered Invasive?," 3 Aug. 2020 In a Nature commentary, Ruth Gruhn, a professor emerita of anthropology at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, said the results should bring fresh consideration of six Brazilian sites proposed to be older than 20,000 years. — Malcolm Ritter, Star Tribune, "Stone tools suggest earlier human presence in North America," 30 July 2020 The program is just getting underway for this summer, said Hailey Samuels, 17, who is working with DTE and plans to attend Wayne State University in the fall to study anthropology. — M.l. Elrick, Detroit Free Press, "Detroit mayor says 'bad habits' jeopardize Michigan's bid to stay open for business," 10 July 2020 Scorpionfish, Bakopoulos’s second novel, is told from the split perspective of two neighbors living in Athens: Mira, an anthropology professor, and a sailor known only as The Captain. — Megan Evershed, The New Republic, "Reading the Literature of Grief During a Pandemic," 9 July 2020 Lisa Hardy is an associate professor of anthropology and director of the Social Science Community Engagement Lab at Northern Arizona University. — Popular Science, "Arizona reopened too quickly. Now Indigenous nations are paying the price.," 6 July 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'anthropology.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Learn More about anthropology

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Last Updated

18 Aug 2020

Cite this Entry

“Anthropology.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anthropology. Accessed 22 Aug. 2020.

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More Definitions for anthropology

anthropology

noun

English Language Learners Definition of anthropology

: the study of human races, origins, societies, and cultures

See the full definition for anthropology in the English Language Learners Dictionary

anthropology

noun

an·thro·pol·o·gy | \ ˌan-thrə-ˈpä-lə-jē

Kids Definition of anthropology

: a science that studies people and especially their history, development, distribution and culture

anthropology

noun

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

plural anthropologies

Medical Definition of anthropology

: 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