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
Jonathan Franklin, NPR, 19 June 2024
The anthropology lecturer is investigating the former sites of ferry landings that helped freedom-seekers traverse the water.
—Sarah Matusek, The Christian Science Monitor, 18 June 2024
An anthropology examination showed the victim was a Black or mixed-race female, 18-24 years old, 5 foot 3 to 5 foot 6 with a slight build, and a distinctive gold tooth.
—Ben Poston, Los Angeles Times, 15 June 2024
According to Yale epidemiology and anthropology Professor Nicola Hawley, there’s also strong evidence that physical fitness in childhood and adolescence impacts longer-term cardiovascular health.
—Evan Gorelick, Hartford Courant, 22 Jan. 2024
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These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'anthropology.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Anthropology.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anthropology. Accessed 4 Jul. 2024.
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