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
Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2025
Timothy Trussell, an anthropology professor at Millersville University, is leading the project — and the treasures he's uncovered reveal insight into provincial life.
—Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 28 Oct. 2025
Gender is a focus of inquiry not only in gender studies classes but in literature, sociology, law, government, history, anthropology and cultural geography, among many other fields.
—Elizabeth Anne Wood, The Conversation, 21 Oct. 2025
At the time, the fields of primatology, ethology, anthropology, and all of science were incredibly male-dominated.
—Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Anthropology.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anthropology. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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