anthropomorphism

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English

Etymology

Coined in the mid-1700s. From Ancient Greek ἄνθρωπος (ánthrōpos, “man, human”) and μορφή (morphḗ, “form, shape”). By surface analysis, anthropo- +‎ -morphism.

Pronunciation

Noun

anthropomorphism (countable and uncountable, plural anthropomorphisms)

  1. The attribution of human characteristics and behavior to something not human.
    • 2016 January 14, Stephen Ross, “What you see in this picture says more about you than the kangaroo”, in The Guardian‎:
      Literature is full of examples of anthropomorphism, especially in children’s stories, from The Wind in the Willows to Watership Down.
  2. (theology) The attribution of human characteristics to divine entities.

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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