Meaning & use
anthropocentric
Last updated
Meaning
adjectivenot comparable
Treating human beings as the most important part of existence or judging everything from a human point of view.
Grammar: Used before a noun or after a linking verb; it does not usually take comparative forms like 'more anthropocentric' in everyday use.
Patterns
- anthropocentric view
- anthropocentric attitude
- anthropocentric approach
Many environmentalists criticize the anthropocentric view that nature exists only for human use.
The philosopher argued that Western thought has been deeply anthropocentric.
An anthropocentric approach to technology puts human needs above all other concerns.
Common combinations
- anthropocentric view
- The anthropocentric view sees animals mainly as resources for people.
- deeply anthropocentric
- His writing is deeply anthropocentric, focusing only on human experience.
- anthropocentric thinking
- Anthropocentric thinking can blind us to the needs of other species.
- criticize as anthropocentric
- The theory was criticized as anthropocentric and outdated.
Synonyms and how they differ
- human-centered
- A plain-English equivalent; anthropocentric is more formal and often critical.
- human-centric
- Common in business and design; anthropocentric is more common in philosophy and environmental debates.
Opposites
Word family
- anthropocentrism noun
- The belief or practice of putting humans at the center.
- anthropocentrically adverb
- In a way that treats humans as the center.
Commonly confused: anthropocentric or anthropomorphic?
anthropocentric vs anthropomorphic
Anthropomorphic means giving human qualities to animals or objects, while anthropocentric means seeing humans as the center of everything.
Practice
The belief that nature exists mainly to serve people is often described as ______.
Choose one answer.
'Anthropocentric' fits because it means human-centered. 'Anthropomorphic' means attributing human form or feelings to non-humans; 'anthropological' relates to the study of humanity; 'anthropogenic' means caused by humans, often used for climate change.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “anthropocentric”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.