ethnology
[ eth-nol-uh-jee ]
/ ɛθˈnɒl ə dʒi /
noun
a branch of anthropology that analyzes cultures, especially in regard to their historical development and the similarities and dissimilarities between them.
(formerly) a branch of cultural anthropology dealing with the origin, distribution, and distinguishing characteristics of human societies.
RELATED WORDS
development, lifestyle, knowledge, habit, society, civilization, folklore, mores, customs, convention, humanism, grounding, folkways
Nearby words
- ethnohistory,
- ethnol.,
- ethnolinguistics,
- ethnological,
- ethnologically,
- ethnomedicine,
- ethnomethodology,
- ethnomusicology,
- ethnonym,
- ethnonymics
Origin of ethnology
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for ethnology
ethnology
/ (ɛθˈnɒlədʒɪ) /
noun
the branch of anthropology that deals with races and peoples, their relations to one another, their origins, and their distinctive characteristics
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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ethnology
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
ethnology
[ (eth-nol-uh-jee) ]
The study of contemporary cultures, in order to develop a theoretical framework for analyzing human society. Cultural anthropologists generally study societies by living among the people, observing, interviewing, and participating in their activities. More than simply describing the customs of these societies, anthropologists attempt to uncover underlying patterns and structures of cultural characteristics, such as language, mythology, gender roles, symbols (see also symbol), and rituals.
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.