Anthropologist

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˌæn.θɹoʊˈpɑl.ə.d͡ʒɪst/

Definitions

1. A scientist who studies human societies, cultures, and their development throughout history and across different regions
2. A professional dedicated to the systematic study of human behavior, cultural practices, and social structures across various societies and historical contexts
3. An individual who investigates the complexities of human existence, including cultural norms, social interactions, and evolutionary aspects unique to humanity

Etymology: The word "anthropologist" is a plain formation: "anthropology" plus the agent suffix "-ist," which marks a person who practices or specializes in something. Its two halves come from ancient Greek. "Anthrōpos" meant "human being" and "logia" meant "study" or "discourse," so "anthropology" literally means the study of humans. The suffix has a longer route than the base. The Greek "-istēs" was an agent ending that passed into Latin as "-ista," then into Old French as "-iste," and from there into Middle English as "-ist." Over centuries English attached it to many roots, which is why words like "scientist" and "artist" share the same ending. Because "anthropology" was itself built from Greek parts, the compound "anthropologist" is a later coinage that follows the same pattern, applying the suffix to a discipline name rather than to a Greek root directly.

Synonyms: sociologist, cultural anthropologist