anthropology
noun
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The Origin of Anthropology
The word anthropology dates back to the late 16th century, but it was not until the 19th century that it was applied to the academic discipline that now bears its name. In the United States, this field of study is typically divided into four distinct branches: physical (or biological) anthropology, archaeology, cultural (or social) anthropology, and linguistic anthropology.
Anthropology is from the New Latin word anthropologia (“the study of humanity”) and shares its ultimate root in Greek, anthrōpos (“human being”), with a number of other words in English, such as anthropomorphize, philanthropy, and misanthrope.
Examples of anthropology in a Sentence
Deborah Barfield Berry, USA Today, 8 May 2025
One of the most enduring questions in anthropology is why Neanderthals, our closest extinct human relatives, completely disappeared around 40,000 years ago.
—Margherita Bassi, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Apr. 2025
Hanna Garth, assistant professor of anthropology at Princeton, has spent time researching household food access and basic needs, with a specific focus on households in South Los Angeles.
—Rebecca Schneid, Time, 29 Mar. 2025
Varma is an associate professor of the psychological/medial anthropology subfield and the vice chair of undergraduate studies.
—News Release, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for anthropology
Cite this Entry
“Anthropology.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anthropology. Accessed 12 May. 2025.
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