anthropology

American  

[an-thruh-pol-uh-jee] / ˌæn θrəˈpɒl ə dʒi /

noun

1. the science that deals with the origins, physical and cultural development, biological characteristics, and social customs and beliefs of humankind.

2. the study of human beings' similarity to and divergence from other animals.

3. the science of humans and their works.

4. Also called philosophical anthropology.  the study of the nature and essence of humankind.

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anthropology British  

/ ˌænθrəˈpɒlədʒɪ, ˌænθrəpəˈlɒdʒɪkəl /

noun

1. the study of humans, their origins, physical characteristics, institutions, religious beliefs, social relationships, etc See also cultural anthropology ethnology physical anthropology social anthropology

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anthropology Scientific  

/ ăn′thrə-pŏl′ə-jē /

1. The scientific study of humans, especially of their origin, their behavior, and their physical, social, and cultural development.

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anthropology Cultural  

1. The scientific study of the origin, development, and varieties of human beings and their societies, particularly so-called primitive societies.

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Usage

What is anthropology? Anthropology is the study of how humans have been different biologically, physically, socially, and culturally over time and space. Anthropology is a broad, diverse field of study that is usually divided into multiple subfields of study and research that specialize in different areas. Let’s look at some of these subfields to get a better understanding of the kinds of subjects an anthropologist might study. Archaeology is a major subfield of anthropology that has become well known thanks to major discoveries and pop culture. Archeology involves the study of human culture by recovering artifacts of past peoples. An archeologist might study the culture and society of the Mayans, for example, by searching for art, tools, or remains of buildings they left behind across the Americas. Cultural anthropology is the study of humanity’s different cultures. This subfield can overlap with archaeology and often involves information discovered from it. But where archaeology is usually concerned with cultures of the past, cultural anthropology might study present cultures, especially with how they differ from each other. Physical anthropology, or biological anthropology, focuses on how humans have physically and biologically changed over time. It also looks at how humans are different from other animals, especially chimpanzees and other primates. Anthropologists will often do this by analyzing bones of ancient humans or remains of animals that science considers to be relatives or ancestors of humans.

Other Word Forms

• anthropologic adjective
• anthropological adjective
• anthropologically adverb
• anthropologist noun
• pseudoanthropological adjective
• semianthropologic adjective
• semianthropological adjective
• semianthropologically adverb

Etymology

Origin of anthropology

First recorded in 1585–95; anthropo- + -logy

Explanation

Anthropology is the scientific study of the origins of humans, how we have changed over the years, and how we relate to each other, both within our own culture and with people from other cultures. Anthrōpos is the Greek word for “human being,” and the suffix -logy means “the study of.” The study of human beings, that’s anthropology. Indigenous tribes in Australia, Brazilian coffee farmers, political activists in Iran, a second grade class in Missoula, Montana; these are all groups of people you might study if you were into anthropology. Every culture has its own particular rituals, behaviors, and lifestyles, and people in the field of anthropology document the many varieties of human experience.

Example Sentences

In 2007, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences awarded Trivers, then a professor of anthropology at Rutgers University, the Crafoord Prize, a prestigious science award that is often mentioned alongside the Nobel.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 26, 2026

This collaborative effort brought together paleogenomics, clinical genetics, and physical anthropology, with researchers from the University of Vienna working alongside colleagues in Italy, Portugal, and Belgium.

From Science Daily • Feb. 17, 2026

In the lawsuit, Bhattacheryya also alleged she faced retaliation after she invited Prakash to speak as a guest lecturer on the topic of cultural relativism in her anthropology class.

From BBC • Jan. 20, 2026

Piller went on to study anthropology and painting at Rutgers University, making jewelry in her spare time.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 30, 2025

Virchow viewed the world in a way that made sense to Farmer, his vision a comprehensive one that included pathology—the study of disease—with social medicine, politics, and anthropology.

From "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder and Michael French

Related Words

• folklore
• sociology