anthropause

[ an-throh-pawz ]

noun

1. a significant temporary reduction in human activity worldwide, as during a pandemic, that noticeably affects environmental phenomena such as levels of air pollution, the movements of wildlife, and even seismic noise:

   The anthropause occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic may inspire people and governments to mobilize for meaningful ecological reform.

Word History and Origins

Origin of anthropause¹

First recorded in 2020 in the online scientific journal Nature Ecology and Evolution