Anthropogenic

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ˌæn θrə pəˈdʒɛn ɪk/

Definitions

1. Caused or produced by human activities, especially in reference to environmental changes or impacts
2. Resulting from human action, particularly in relation to ecological effects or modifications to natural systems
3. Originating from human influence, specifically regarding changes that impact the environment or ecosystem dynamics

Etymology: "Anthropogenic" is built from two Greek elements: "anthrōpos," meaning "human being," and the suffix "-genic," from "-genēs," meaning "produced by" or "born of." Put together, the pieces say nothing more than "produced by humans," and that is exactly what the word means. The "-genic" ending appears in other scientific coinages, such as "photogenic" (suited to being photographed) and "carcinogenic" (causing cancer), so the pattern is one English speakers already recognise. The word first appears in English around 1883, a date that places it in the period when scientists were beginning to write systematically about human effects on the natural world. Its plain construction shows it was a deliberate technical coinage from classical elements, not a term inherited from ancient Greek, where no word of this shape existed.

Synonyms: human-induced, man-made