anthropomorphism

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English

Etymology

Coined in the mid-1700s. From Ancient Greek ἄνθρωπος (ánthrōpos, “man, human being”) and μορφή (morphḗ, “form, shape”).

Pronunciation

  • (General American) IPA(key): /ˌænθɹəpəˈmɔɹfɪzəm/
  • Audio (US)(file)

Noun

anthropomorphism (countable and uncountable, plural anthropomorphisms)

  1. The attribution of human characteristics and behavior to something not human.
  2. (theology) The attribution of human characteristics to divine beings.

Usage notes

Despite the similarity in meaning, this term carries very different connotations when used in different contexts. In literature, anthropomorphism describes merely a device of fiction writing, whereas in science (particularly biology) anthropomorphism has traditionally been used pejoratively when a scientist appears to be attributing to animals characteristics that are assumed to be exclusive to human beings.

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