anthropologist

UK: ˌænθrəˈpɒlədʒɪst | US: ˌænθrəˈpɑːlədʒɪst

Definition

  1. n. a person who studies human societies, cultures, and their development

Structure
anthropo <human>logy <study>ist <person who practices>
Etymology

The word "anthropologist" combines three morphemes:

  1. "Anthropo-" derives from Greek anthropos (ἄνθρωπος), meaning "human."
  2. "-logy" comes from Greek -logia (-λογία), meaning "the study of."
  3. "-ist" is a suffix from Latin -ista (via Greek -istēs), denoting a person who practices or specializes in something.

The term emerged in the early 19th century, reflecting the scientific study of humans as a discipline. The morphemes logically progress from "human" to "study" to "practitioner," forming a clear semantic chain.

Examples

  1. The anthropologist lived with a remote tribe to study their customs.

  2. As an anthropologist, she focused on the evolution of language.

  3. His work as an anthropologist revealed ancient burial rituals.

  4. The anthropologist published a groundbreaking paper on cultural symbolism.

  5. Many anthropologists collaborate with archaeologists to interpret historical findings.