anthropogenic

adjective

an·​thro·​po·​gen·​ic ˌan(t)-thrə-pə-ˈje-nik How to pronounce anthropogenic (audio)
: of, relating to, or resulting from the influence of human beings on nature
anthropogenic pollutants
anthropogenically
ˌan(t)-thrə-pə-ˈje-ni-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce anthropogenic (audio)
adverb

Examples of anthropogenic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Guyette and his colleagues increasingly suspected that fires were not natural but anthropogenic—ignited by people. — M. R. O’Connor, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026 The report found that so far this year, Asia has faced the greatest impacts of ozone pollution, fueled by widespread anthropogenic emissions from industrialization, economic development, urban expansion and transport across the continent. — Dan Peck, ABC News, 29 Sep. 2026 Traffic, construction projects, mining operations, industrial work, concerts and sporting events all generate small but measurable ground movements known as anthropogenic seismic noise. — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026 Every extreme weather system that has battered the US in recent years has been building on a foundation already destabilized by decades of anthropogenic warming. — Dr. Douglas M. Hasson, Hartford Courant, 28 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for anthropogenic

Word History

Etymology

anthropo- + -genic

First Known Use

circa 1883, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of anthropogenic was circa 1883

Rhymes for anthropogenic

See All Rhymes for anthropogenic

Browse Nearby Words

anthropodermic
anthropogenic
anthropogeny
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Anthropogenic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anthropogenic. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Medical Definition

anthropogenic

adjective
an·​thro·​po·​gen·​ic -pə-ˈjen-ik How to pronounce anthropogenic (audio)
: of, relating to, or resulting from the influence of human beings on nature
anthropogenic sources of pollution
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of compunction

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All