especially: the study of human beings and their ancestors through time and space and in relation to physical character, environmental and social relations, and culture
2
: theology dealing with the origin, nature, and destiny of human beings
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.
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the WebSpadone earned a Fulbright assistantship to teach English in Indonesia, but instead of attending, the 22-year-old anthropology major spent the last semester of his senior year isolated in his dorm at Colgate University, in Hamilton, New York. Zoe Christen Jones, CBS News, 17 Dec. 2020 Brazil earned his bachelor’s degree in anthropology at UC Berkeley.Los Angeles Times, 25 July 2022 The course is taught by Princeton University visiting professor of anthropology, Sindre Bangstad. Adam Sabes, Fox News, 13 Aug. 2022 Teresa Montoya, who is an assistant professor of anthropology at the University of Chicago, has family from the Puerco Valley in Sanders. Arlyssa D. Becenti, The Arizona Republic, 22 July 2022 Museum Coordinator Elise Maragliano has worked at the American Museum of Natural History and taught anthropology at Southern Connecticut State University. Susan Dunne, Hartford Courant, 27 June 2022 Remains have been uncovered in all 50 states and are now on display in museums, in university labs for anthropology research and tucked away in boxes in the back of closets across the country. Celina Tebor, Los Angeles Times, 31 July 2021 Following the discovery, the remains were sent to the University of North Texas Center for Human Identification, where an anthropology report was completed and DNA was extracted. Gina Martinez, CBS News, 28 June 2022 Why was the history of nonindustrial people anthropology and not history? Elif Batuman, The New Yorker, 18 Apr. 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
borrowed from New Latin anthropologia "study of humanity, science of human nature," from anthropo-anthropo- + -logia-logy
ADJECTIVE➤cultural, linguistic, social, etc.文化、語言、社會等人類學◇Social anthropology examines family relationships in detail.社會人類學詳盡地探討家庭關係。➡ note at subject(for verbs and nouns)