physical anthropology

American  

noun

1. the branch of anthropology dealing with the evolutionary changes in human anatomy and physiology, using mensurational and descriptive techniques.

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physical anthropology British  

noun

1. the branch of anthropology dealing with the genetic aspect of human development and its physical variations

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physical anthropology Scientific  

/ fĭz′ĭ-kəl /

1. The branch of anthropology that deals with human evolutionary biology, physical variation, and classification.

2. Compare cultural anthropology

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Other Word Forms

• physical anthropologist noun

Etymology

Origin of physical anthropology

First recorded in 1870–75

Example Sentences

He attends to the racism of early leaders, but more enduring problems came with the growing importance of physical anthropology toward the end of the 19th century.

From The Wall Street Journal

By then, Monge had two roles, one as associate curator in charge, overseeing the museum’s physical anthropology section, and another as an adjunct associate professor in the school’s anthropology department.

From New York Times

Despite those critiques, Morton’s approach helped lay the foundation for the burgeoning field of physical anthropology.

From Science Magazine

Morton, a successful doctor who was an active member of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, has sometimes been called the founder of American physical anthropology.

From New York Times

He was born in 1911, and his decision to study medicine, human genetics and physical anthropology in the 1930s was largely in tune with the scientific mood of the times.

From New York Times