anthropology

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

|Updated on: 31 May 2018

Editor's Note: The Origin of anthropology

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

—

anthropological

play \-pə-ˈlä-ji-kəl\ adjective

—

anthropologically

play \-ji-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

—

anthropologist

play \ˌan(t)-thrə-ˈpä-lə-jist\ noun

See anthropology defined for English-language learners

See anthropology defined for kids

Recent Examples of anthropology from the Web

That might be, at least in part, because many Native American artists have struggled to break through in a mainstream culture that has often treated their creations as something more at home in museums of anthropology than galleries of modern art.

— brittany martin, Los Angeles Magazine, "Native American Artist Rick Bartow Took the Trauma of War and Turned It into Art," 10 May 2018
Childs is known for meshing anthropology and exploration in books like The Secret Knowledge of Water.

— heather hansman, Outside Online, "Craig Childs' New Book Explores the Ancient World," 8 May 2018
Under his guidance, the university established new degree programs in nursing, engineering, museum studies, anthropology and religious studies.

— nicole blanchard and dana oland, idahostatesman, "One of these five people will be Boise State University's next president | Idaho Statesman," 18 Apr. 2018
Each was a triumph, and they still are recognized as such, icons of a genre, touchstones of both anthropology and film.

— sean flynn, Smithsonian, "The Reckoning," 23 Feb. 2018
Topics include neuroscience of taste, beer anthropology and the science of cocktail pairing and more.

— gege reed, The Courier-Journal, "There's something for everyone with more than 50+ event taking place in Louisville this week," 8 Nov. 2017
Walking across the stage at Friday’s commencement marked Carlson’s first college degree, an associate of arts in anthropology.

— rachel leingang, azcentral, "Oldest-ever Scottsdale Community College grad wants to be student 'till the day I die'," 11 May 2018
Officers are deployed as enforcers of the state, without being taught psychology, anthropology, sociology, community dynamics, local history, or criminology.

— rachel aviv, The New Yorker, "The Spy Who Came Home," 30 Apr. 2018
Gwyneth Paltrow studied anthropology at the University of California, Santa Barbara, before dropping out to pursue acting.

— kelly conaboy, The Cut, "Gwyneth Paltrow Wears Her Fiancé’s Initials — Or Does She?," 19 Apr. 2018

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.

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.

Origin and Etymology of anthropology

New Latin anthropologia, from anthrop- + -logia -logy

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1593

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

Other Anthropology Terms

ectomorph, ethnography, prehistory, yurt

ANTHROPOLOGY Defined for English Language Learners

anthropology

noun

Definition of anthropology for English Language Learners

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

ANTHROPOLOGY Defined for Kids

anthropology

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

Definition of anthropology for Students

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

Medical Dictionary

anthropology

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

medical Definition of anthropology

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

—