Cultural Anthropology Terms

noun a society in an advanced state of social development, with complex legal, political, and cultural organizations

adjective relating to a civilization or civilizations

• The ancient civilization of Mesopotamia is often regarded as one of the cradles of human civilization.
• Have you ever wondered what life was like in the Mayan civilization?
• Dude, the Aztec civilization was lit back in the day.
• The artist's latest work explores the decay of modern civilization.

noun not applicable

verb not applicable

adjective relating to the ideas, customs, and social behavior of a society

adverb not applicable

pronoun not applicable

preposition not applicable

conjunction not applicable

interjection not applicable

article not applicable

• The museum showcases a variety of cultural artifacts from around the world.
• I love trying different cultural foods when I travel to new places.
• My friend is always up to date on the latest cultural trends.
• Learning a new language can open up a whole new cultural world for you.

adjective relating to or based on the idea that one's own group or culture is better or more important than others

• The company's ethnocentric policies led to a lack of diversity in its workforce.
• Some people can be so ethnocentric, thinking their culture is superior to others.
• Don't be so ethnocentric, man. Embrace different cultures.
• His ethnocentric views created a barrier between him and people from different backgrounds.

noun an excessive and irrational devotion or commitment to a particular thing

• The psychologist discussed the patient's unusual fetish during their therapy session.
• She always jokes about his shoe fetish, calling him the Imelda Marcos of their friend group.
• I heard he has a weird fetish for collecting vintage lunchboxes.
• Her obsession with cleanliness could almost be considered a fetish for tidiness.

noun a group of people sharing common customs, origins, ancestry, etc.

• The folk music festival showcased traditional songs and dances from different cultures.
• A lot of folk believe in superstitions like avoiding black cats.
• I love hanging out with my folk at the local pub.
• The folk tale of the boy who cried wolf teaches an important lesson about honesty.

noun an animal of mixed or inferior breeding

• The term 'half breed' is considered outdated and offensive when referring to someone of mixed racial heritage.
• Some people still use the term 'half breed' to describe someone who is of mixed race.
• I heard that guy is a half breed, his mom is from Japan and his dad is from England.
• In the world of dog breeding, a half breed can sometimes exhibit the best traits of both parent breeds.

noun a small, simple, and often temporary dwelling

• The hermit lived in a small hut deep in the forest.
• Let's go hang out at that cozy hut by the lake.
• I heard they're throwing a party at the hut this weekend.
• His mind was like a cluttered hut, filled with memories and thoughts.

noun A building or place where works of art, scientific specimens, or other objects of permanent value are kept and displayed.

• The museum showcases a collection of ancient artifacts.
• Let's check out the museum this weekend, it's supposed to have some cool stuff.
• The museum is lit, you gotta see it for yourself.
• Her mind is like a museum, full of memories and knowledge.

noun the act of causing severe damage to a body part, especially by cutting or removing it

• The act of mutilation is considered a serious crime under the law.
• I heard that the poor dog suffered from mutilation by its previous owner.
• That movie was so bad, it felt like a visual mutilation of my eyes.
• Her self-esteem was deeply wounded, it felt like emotional mutilation.

noun a religion that is not one of the world's main religions, especially a pre-Christian religion of Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East

• Paganism is a term used to describe various pre-Christian religions.
• Some people still practice paganism as their belief system.
• I heard she's into that paganism stuff.
• In the modern world, consumerism has become the new paganism.

noun the way someone sees and understands the world

• His world view is shaped by his academic background and extensive research.
• She has a pretty positive world view, always seeing the good in people.
• I don't really vibe with his world view, it's just too out there for me.
• Through her art, she expresses her unique world view to the audience.

noun a cultural or societal focus on men and male perspectives, often to the exclusion or detriment of women and female perspectives

• Androcentrism is the belief that male perspectives and experiences are central to society.
• Androcentrism often leads to the marginalization of women's voices and perspectives.
• Androcentrism is so outdated, it's time to recognize the value of all genders.
• Androcentrism is like wearing blinders that only allow you to see the world from a male perspective.

noun a religious movement that arises in a non-Western culture that worships Western goods and technology as symbols of wealth and power

• The concept of a cargo cult emerged in the Pacific region during the early 20th century.
• Some people still believe in cargo cults and their promises of material wealth.
• Cargo cults are like wishing for a lottery win without buying a ticket.
• His belief in quick fixes and shortcuts is like being part of a cargo cult.

noun a person, place, thing, or idea

verb a word used to describe an action, state, or occurrence

preposition a word governing, and usually preceding, a noun or pronoun and expressing a relation to another word or element in the clause

article a word that is used with a noun to specify grammatical definiteness of the noun

• Many people gather to worship at the altar of science and reason.
• We always worship at the shrine of good food whenever we visit that restaurant.
• She's totally obsessed with that band, always worshiping at their temple of music.
• Some people seem to worship at the altar of their own ego, never considering others.

noun the state or quality of being nomadic

• The study of nomadicity in ancient civilizations reveals interesting patterns of movement and settlement.
• Some people are drawn to the nomadicity of van life, constantly on the move and exploring new places.
• I love the nomadicity of backpacking through Europe, never staying in one place for too long.
• The nomadicity of ideas in the creative process can lead to unexpected and innovative outcomes.

adverb in a manner that is native or innate to a particular place or person

• She was raised natively in Japan and speaks Japanese fluently.
• I can natively understand Spanish because I grew up in a bilingual household.
• I natively get what you're saying, no need to explain further.
• His artistic talent seems to come natively to him, as if it's in his DNA.

noun a sacred inner part of a temple or church, especially in ancient Greece

• The adyta of the temple were only accessible to the high priests.
• I heard there's a secret room in the temple called the adyta.
• Let's sneak into the adyta and see what's inside!
• The adyta symbolizes the innermost sanctum of the soul.

noun a member of an indigenous people in the Philippines

adjective relating to the Aeta people or their language or culture

• The Aeta people are an indigenous group living in the Philippines.
• I heard there is an Aeta village nearby.
• That Aeta girl is really cool.
• The Aeta culture is like a treasure trove of ancient wisdom.

noun afalou (potentially a proper noun or specific name)

• The Afalou man is known for his traditional craftsmanship in weaving rugs.
• Have you met the Afalou man who sells fresh produce at the market?
• The Afalou man is always hustling to make a living.
• She moves through the crowd like an Afalou man, weaving in and out effortlessly.