The definition of anthropology is the study of various elements of humans, including biology and culture, in order to understand human origin and the evolution of various beliefs and social customs.
(noun)An example of someone who studies anthropology is Ruth Benedict.
See anthropology in Webster's New World College Dictionary
noun
Origin: anthropo- + -logy
Related Forms:
See anthropology in American Heritage Dictionary 4
noun
Related Forms:
See anthropology in Ologies
Anthropology
a specialty that studies the creative achievements of societies, especially those passed on through later generations. Also called culturology.
dendranthropology
the theory and work based on the theory that trees were involved in the origin of man. —dendranthropologic, dendranthropological, adj.
ethnocentricity
ethnocentrism. —ethnocentric, adj.
the belief in the superiority of one’s own group or culture. Also ethnocentricity. —ethnocentric, adj.
ethnodicy Rare.
the branch of ethnology that studies comparative legal systems.
ethnogeny
the study of the origin of distinctive groups or tribes. —ethnogenist, n. —ethnogenic, adj.
the branch of anthropology that studies and describes the individual cultures of mankind. —ethnographer, n. —ethnographic, ethnographical, adj.
the study, often comparative, of the origins and development of the races of mankind. —ethnologist, n. —ethnologic, ethnological, adj.
ethography
the description of moral and ethical systems. —ethnographer, n. —ethnographic, ethnographical, adj.
the blending of diverse cultures or traditions.
a person who is a native or inhabitant of an isthmus. —isthmian, adj.
lacustrian
a lake-dweller.
Leiotrichi
people with smooth hair; a division of mankind characterized by people with such hair. Cf. Ulotrichi. —Leiotrichan, adj.
matrilocality
the state or custom of residing with the family or tribe of the wife, as in certain primitive societies. Cf. patrilocality. —matrilocal, adj.
patrilocality
the state or custom of residing with the family or tribe of the husband, as in certain primitive societies. Cf. matrilocality. —patrilocal, adj.
1. a subdivision of an ancient Greek tribe or phyle.
2. a clan or other unit of a primitive tribe.
the branch of anthropology that studies, describes, and interprets the evolutionary changes in man’s bodily structure and the classification of modern races. Cf. cultural anthropology. Also called somatology
the branch of anthropology that studies human societies, emphasizing interpersonal and intergroup relations.
physical anthropology.
synecdochism
the belief that a part of a person or object can act in place of the whole and thus that anything done to the part will equally affect the whole.
Ulotrichi
people with woolly, tightly curled, or crisp hair; a division of mankind characterized by people with such hair. —Ulotrichous, adj.
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