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ethnology

American  
[eth-nol-uh-jee] / ɛθˈnɒl ə dʒi /

noun

  1. a branch of anthropology that analyzes cultures, especially in regard to their historical development and the similarities and dissimilarities between them.

  2. (formerly) a branch of cultural anthropology dealing with the origin, distribution, and distinguishing characteristics of human societies.

ethnology British  
/ ɛθˈnɒlədʒɪ, ˌɛθnəˈlɒdʒɪk /

noun

  1. 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 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
ethnology Cultural  

  1. 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.

Other Word Forms

  • ethnologic adjective
  • ethnological adjective
  • ethnologically adverb
  • ethnologist noun

Etymology

Origin of ethnology

First recorded in 1835–45; ethno- + -logy

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

I emailed the collection manager of archaeology and ethnology in the Smithsonian's Department of Anthropology to ask about Sandy.

From Salon • Oct. 19, 2022

After France was liberated, he returned to Paris as a teenager to attend secondary school, the Lycée Buffon, then enrolled at the Sorbonne in 1949, intending to study ethnology.

From New York Times • Sep. 13, 2022

It’s an issue the museum has and is continuing to grapple with, said Peter Whiteley, curator of North American ethnology.

From Washington Times • May 13, 2022

"Originally I wanted to do ethnology, to discover the Berber people and my roots," he said.

From BBC • Nov. 5, 2021

Next came the U.S. government, seeking to place an Indian exhibit on the island, and then Professor Putnam, the fair’s chief of ethnology, who saw the island as the ideal site for several exotic villages.

From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.