anthropomorphism

noun

an·​thro·​po·​mor·​phism ˌan(t)-thrə-pə-ˈmȯr-ˌfi-zəm 

: an interpretation of what is not human or personal in terms of human or personal characteristics : humanization

Children's stories have a long tradition of anthropomorphism.

anthropomorphist

ˌan(t)-thrə-pə-ˈmȯr-fist 

noun

Examples of anthropomorphism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The anthropomorphism on display is anything but cutesy. —Peter Rainer, The Christian Science Monitor, 29 May 2024

Giving key wildlife individual names isn't about anthropomorphism, McSpadden said, but creating connections between humans and the wild. —Debra Utacia Krol, The Arizona Republic, 9 May 2024

To an extent, anthropomorphism can also improve human-AS interaction, since people often trust agents endowed with more humanlike features…[but] anthropomorphism can also induce overtrust. —IEEE Spectrum, 27 Apr. 2024

For decades, scientists hesitated to study animal emotions lest they be accused of anthropomorphism. —Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Discover Magazine, 26 Jan. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Greek anthrōpómorphos "having human form" + -ism — more at anthropomorphic

First Known Use

1650, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

anthropomorphism

noun

an·​thro·​po·​mor·​phism ˌan(t)-thrə-pə-ˈmȯr-ˌfiz-əm 

: an interpretation of what is not human or personal in terms of human or personal characteristics compare theriomorphism

anthropomorphic

-fik 

adjective

anthropomorphically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb