anthropology

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

Updated on: 17 May 2018

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

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anthropological

play \-pə-ˈlä-ji-kəl\ adjective

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anthropologically

play \-ji-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

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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

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
This alignment, according to Tim Pauketat, professor of anthropology at the University of Illinois, is tied to the summer solstice sunrise and the southern maximum moonrise, orientating Cahokia to the movement of both the sun and the moon.

— sarah e. baires, Smithsonian, "White Settlers Buried the Truth About the Midwest’s Mysterious Mound Cities," 23 Feb. 2018
Haagen Klaus, a professor of anthropology at George Mason University, has excavated some of the earliest evidence for child sacrifice in the region, at the 10th- to 12th-century site of Cerro Cerillos in the Lambayeque Valley, north of Huanchaco.

— National Geographic, "Exclusive: Ancient Mass Child Sacrifice May Be World's Largest," 26 Apr. 2018
Scott grew up in Charlottesville, Va., thengraduated from theUniversityofNorth CarolinaatChapel Hill with a degree in journalism and aconcentration in anthropology.

— scott gold, latimes.com, "Harry Anderson: Bringing magic to the Big Easy," 17 Apr. 2018
Fowler’s article highlights Chris Shaw, a graduate student in anthropology at the University of New Brunswick, who is specifically researching Wabanaki canoe routes.

— julissa treviño, Smithsonian, "Researchers Are Tracing Wabanaki Canoe Routes in New Brunswick," 12 Apr. 2018
An adjunct professor in anthropology at the University of Victoria in British Columbia, Crockford's fields of study include evolution and paleoecology.

— author: erica goode, Anchorage Daily News, "Climate skeptics say polar bears are fine. Scientists beg to differ.," 10 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

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