anthropology
anth-ruh-PO-luhd-zhee
Anthropology (noun) means the scientific and scholarly study of human beings, covering culture, language, biology, and history. Example: “Her degree in anthropology took her on fieldwork trips to remote villages.”
noun
1
The scientific and scholarly study of human beings, covering culture, language, biology, and history.
"Her degree in anthropology took her on fieldwork trips to remote villages."
"Anthropology helped explain why the two neighbouring tribes had such different burial customs."
"My brother is studying anthropology because he wants to understand how different societies live."
How to use anthropology
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe academic field devoted to understanding humans and their cultures.
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like anthropology.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- anthropologies
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Her degree in _____ took her on fieldwork trips to remote villages.
Etymology
From Greek anthrōpos ("human being") plus -logia ("study of") — literally "the study of humankind."
Synonyms
View more →
ethnology
human science
Related words
Rhymes for anthropology
See all rhymes for anthropology →Frequently asked questions
What does “anthropology” mean?
The word “anthropology” means the scientific and scholarly study of human beings, covering culture, language, biology, and history. In plain terms, the academic field devoted to understanding humans and their cultures.
How do you pronounce “anthropology”?
“Anthropology” is pronounced anth-ruh-PO-luhd-zhee (/ˌænθɹəˈpɑləd͡ʒi/ in IPA).
How do you use “anthropology” in a sentence?
Here is “anthropology” used in a sentence: “Her degree in anthropology took her on fieldwork trips to remote villages.”
What part of speech is “anthropology”?
“Anthropology” is a noun.
Where does the word “anthropology” come from?
The word “anthropology” comes from Greek. From Greek anthrōpos ("human being") plus -logia ("study of") — literally "the study of humankind.".
Is “anthropology” a common word?
“Anthropology” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.
What is the difference between anthropology and sociology?
Anthropology studies human beings broadly, including culture, language, biology, and history, often across many societies and time periods. Sociology focuses more narrowly on the structure and behavior of groups within contemporary societies. The two fields overlap but anthropology traditionally takes a wider, more comparative and historical view.
What are the main branches of anthropology?
Anthropology is usually divided into subfields covering culture, language, biology, and history, reflecting its broad scope as the scientific and scholarly study of human beings. Cultural anthropology looks at customs and social life, linguistic anthropology studies language, and biological anthropology examines human evolution and physical variation. Archaeology, which studies past societies through physical remains, is sometimes treated as a related field within anthropology.
Is anthropology a science or a humanity?
Anthropology is generally described as both a scientific and scholarly discipline, since it combines systematic research methods with historical and cultural interpretation. This dual nature lets it draw on techniques from the natural sciences while also engaging with humanities-style analysis of culture and history.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include anthropology:
