anthropause

[an-throh-pawz]

noun

1. a significant temporary reduction in human activity worldwide, as during a pandemic, that noticeably affects environmental phenomena such as levels of air pollution, the movements of wildlife, and even seismic noise.

   The anthropause occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic may inspire people and governments to mobilize for meaningful ecological reform.

Word History and Origins

Origin of anthropause¹

First recorded in 2020 in the online scientific journal Nature Ecology and Evolution

Example Sentences

Wildlife during the pandemic 'anthropause'

Read more on Science Daily

The study, which was published in Nature Ecology & Evolution on Monday, deepens and complicates scientists’ understanding of what has been called the “anthropause,” when pandemic lockdowns radically altered human behavior.

Read more on New York Times

The sudden global decline in human movement that followed the arrival of Covid-19 is sometimes called the “anthropause.”

Read more on New York Times

This research will contribute to the Global Anthropause Raptor Research Network that is looking at how birds of prey around the world were affected by lockdowns.

Read more on BBC

A growing body of literature paints a complex portrait of the slowdown of human activity that has become known as the “anthropause.”

Read more on New York Times