Origin: Greek suffix -ology
Anthropology has 2 different meanings across 1 category:
the social science that studies the origins and social relationships of human beings
"Professor Lee chose anthropology to understand how ancient tribes formed their complex social hierarchies."
The holistic scientific and social study of humanity, mainly using ethnography as its method.
"The department offers a rigorous program in anthropology that trains students to conduct fieldwork through the methods of ethnography."
In plain English: Anthropology is the study of humans and their cultures, both past and present.
"She decided to study anthropology at university because she wanted to learn about different cultures from around the world."
Usage: Anthropology is the broad science that studies all aspects of human life across time and cultures rather than focusing on a single specific group or era. While often confused with sociology due to their shared interest in society, anthropology uniquely emphasizes holistic analysis through methods like ethnography to understand diverse human experiences globally.
The word anthropology comes from the New Latin term anthropologia, which combines an Ancient Greek root meaning "human" with a suffix for study or discourse. It was formed to describe the scientific investigation of humanity and mankind.