anthropology

[ an-thruh-pol-uh-jee ]

noun

1. the science that deals with the origins, physical and cultural development, biological characteristics, and social customs and beliefs of humankind.
2. the study of human beings' similarity to and divergence from other animals.
3. the science of humans and their works.
4. Also called phil·o·soph·i·cal an·thro·pol·o·gy [fil-, uh, -, sof, -i-k, uh, l an-thr, uh, -, pol, -, uh, -jee]. the study of the nature and essence of humankind.

anthropology

/ ˌænθrəpəˈlɒdʒɪkəl; ˌænθrəˈpɒlədʒɪ /

noun

1. See social anthropology, physical anthropology, ethnology, cultural anthropology
   the study of humans, their origins, physical characteristics, institutions, religious beliefs, social relationships, etc See also cultural anthropology ethnology physical anthropology social anthropology

anthropology

/ ăn′thrə-pŏl′ə-jē /

1. The scientific study of humans, especially of their origin, their behavior, and their physical, social, and cultural development.

anthropology

1. The scientific study of the origin, development, and varieties of human beings and their societies, particularly so-called primitive societies.

Derived Forms

• ˌanthropoˈlogically, adverb
• ˌanthroˈpologist, noun
• anthropological, adjective

Other Words From

• an·thro·po·log·i·cal [an-thr, uh, -p, uh, -, loj, -i-k, uh, l], an·thro·po·log·ic adjective
• an·thro·po·log·i·cal·ly adverb
• pseu·do·an·thro·po·log·i·cal adjective
• sem·i·an·thro·po·log·ic adjective
• sem·i·an·thro·po·log·i·cal adjective
• sem·i·an·thro·po·log·i·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of anthropology¹

First recorded in 1585–95; anthropo- + -logy

Example Sentences

Her field is very new, this combination of biochemistry and cultural anthropology.

From MIT Technology Review

Machine learning researchers should stop ducking responsibility by claiming such considerations belong to other fields—data science or anthropology or political science.

From Fortune

So, those fields plus computer science — with their interest in artificial intelligence — and anthropology, all kind of converge in this one interdisciplinary field, which wants to use different methods and approaches to tackle the questions of mind.

From Freakonomics

Tyler Faith, an archeology and anthropology expert at the University of Utah who was not involved in the study, says this idea could possibly extend to other species that met their ends as the ice age melted away.

From Popular-Science

To do anthropology well, you had to alienate yourself from everything familiar, to take a slow train toward another way of seeing reality.

From Nautilus

But I jumped off the science track early, and took only one class in anthropology in college.

From The Daily Beast

Richard Kurin was a 19-year-old anthropology student in India when he experienced his material culture epiphany.

From The Daily Beast

Hobbes lacked the data of archaeology and anthropology to inform his theories about the dangerous nature of pre-state existence.

From The Daily Beast

Beyond Baghdad the line drawn between Syria, now the property of France, and Iraq was more cartography than anthropology.

From The Daily Beast

“He is in a row,” says Erin Kimmerle, an associate professor of anthropology with USF, who is leading the excavation.

From The Daily Beast

Boulanger's ideas on philosophy, mythology, anthropology and history are of extraordinary interest today.

From Project Gutenberg

But famous as he was as a surgeon, his name is associated most closely with the modern school of anthropology.

From Project Gutenberg

It was a work of observation, insight, and genius, and was a landmark in the progress of the science of anthropology.

From Project Gutenberg

The study of prehistoric anthropology in Russia, a vast territory, is still in its infancy.

From Project Gutenberg

Among these are several on anthropology, on political economy, and even on Darwinism.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• folklore
• sociology

More About Anthropology

What is anthropology?

Anthropology is the study of how humans have been different biologically, physically, socially, and culturally over time and space.

Anthropology is a broad, diverse field of study that is usually divided into multiple subfields of study and research that specialize in different areas. Let’s look at some of these subfields to get a better understanding of the kinds of subjects an anthropologist might study.

Archaeology is a major subfield of anthropology that has become well known thanks to major discoveries and pop culture. Archeology involves the study of human culture by recovering artifacts of past peoples. An archeologist might study the culture and society of the Mayans, for example, by searching for art, tools, or remains of buildings they left behind across the Americas.

Cultural anthropology is the study of humanity’s different cultures. This subfield can overlap with archaeology and often involves information discovered from it. But where archaeology is usually concerned with cultures of the past, cultural anthropology might study present cultures, especially with how they differ from each other.

Physical anthropology, or biological anthropology, focuses on how humans have physically and biologically changed over time. It also looks at how humans are different from other animals, especially chimpanzees and other primates. Anthropologists will often do this by analyzing bones of ancient humans or remains of animals that science considers to be relatives or ancestors of humans.

Why is anthropology important?

The first records of the word anthropology come from around 1585. It comes from combining form anthropo–, which means “human,” and combining form –logy, which means “field of study.” Anthropology is the study of humans, usually through the things we make or the societies in which we live.

While anthropology as a modern science can be traced back to the 1800s, the idea of studying human history and culture goes back to ancient historians such as the Greek historian Herodotus, who lived in the 400s b.c.e.

Anthropology and its subfields are defined differently from country to country. In the United Kingdom, for example, archaeology is considered to be a sister science to anthropology rather than a subfield. Among American anthropologists, linguistic anthropology is considered a fourth subfield. This subfield studies human culture through the many different languages that humans have developed, many of which are related to each other.

Did you know … ?

Anthropology is often known as a science that studies the past, but this is only a part of anthropology. In fact, many anthropologists work in fields such as business and government to assist in analyzing groups or cultures to better plan new projects or marketing campaigns.

What are real-life examples of anthropology?

Anthropology is a large field of science that studies human culture and history.

Today we'll be tweeting from @CongCemetery, to discuss a forensic anthropology research project + burial reinternment. 12 noon #SIForensic

— Smithsonian's NMNH (@NMNH) June 11, 2014

What other words are related to anthropology?

• humanity
• culture
• history
• society
• archaeology

Quiz yourself!

True or False?

Anthropology is only concerned with ancient human societies.