Word
anthropogenic
Phoneticsan·thro·pogenic
US/ˌænθɹəpəˈdʒɛnɪk/
UK/ˌænθɹəpəʊdʒˈɛnɪk/
Definition
adj. caused by human activity. You use this to describe things like pollution, climate change, or deforestation that people have created.
adj. relating to or resulting from human activity. Typically used in scientific or environmental contexts to distinguish human-caused changes from natural processes.
Examples
“The rise in global temperatures is largely anthropogenic.”
“Scientists are studying how anthropogenic noise in the ocean affects the communication of whales and dolphins.”
“The conference focused on mitigating anthropogenic carbon emissions, recognizing that industrial expansion and urbanization have significantly altered the planet's atmospheric composition over the last century.”
Examples
simple
“The rise in global temperatures is largely anthropogenic.”
contextual
“Scientists are studying how anthropogenic noise in the ocean affects the communication of whales and dolphins.”
complex
“The conference focused on mitigating anthropogenic carbon emissions, recognizing that industrial expansion and urbanization have significantly altered the planet's atmospheric composition over the last century.”
Real-World Examples
“Soundscapes dominated by anthropogenic sounds have been linked to poor mental health in people, whereas the opposite has been found for natural sounds like birdsong or forest soundscapes.” “The researchers also examined how much of the snowfall increase could be attributed to anthropogenic forcing.” Etymology
From anthropo- + -genic, attested 1889.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/anthropogenic