Anthropocene

[an-thruh-puh-seen, an-throp-uh‐]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

adjective

noting or pertaining to a proposed epoch of the Quarternary Period, occurring in the present time, since mid-20th century, when human activity began to effect significant environmental consequences, specifically on ecosystems and climate.

noun

the Anthropocene Epoch.

Anthropocene

/ æ��ˈθ��ɒ��əˌ��ː�� /

noun

a proposed term for the present geological epoch (from the time of the Industrial Revolution onwards), during which humanity has begun to have a significant impact on the environment

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Word History and Origins

Origin of Anthropocene¹

First recorded in 1995–2000; anthropo- ( def. ) + -cene ( def. ); coined in the early 1980s by Eugene F. Stoermer, U.S. biologist (1934–2012), and brought into general use by Paul J. Crutzen ( def. ), who coined the word independently. Stoermer and Crutzen collaborated in an article published in 2000 proposing Anthropocene for the current geological epoch

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Word History and Origins

Origin of Anthropocene¹

C21: from _anthropo- and _-cene , coined by Paul Crutzen (born 1933), Nobel-winning Dutch chemist

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

The winners of the 2024 Sony World Photography Awards have been announced, with Zed Nelson named as Photographer of the Year for The Anthropocene Illusion, a project exploring the fractured relationship between humans and the natural world.

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Nelson's project takes its name from the term Anthropocene - the current geological epoch where human activity has become the dominant force shaping the Earth's environment.

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The Anthropocene Illusion goes beyond a documentary, offering a thought-provoking exploration of modern human life in an era shaped by human impact.

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The book might seem, at first blush, like a departure for Green, who’s best known for his bestselling young adult novels, such as The Fault in Our Stars and Looking for Alaska along with his cleverly packaged memoir The Anthropocene Reviewed.

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And it will do so after the Anthropocene extinction, which is being caused by human activities.

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When To Use

�� does Anthropocene mean?

The Anthropocene, or Anthropocene Epoch, is a proposed name for the geological epoch that we’re currently living in. The name is intended to indicate that human actions have had a significant and lasting impact on the environment since the Industrial Revolution.Anthropocene is proposed as the name of the epoch that would succeed the official current epoch, the Holocene. Anthropocene has not been adopted by scientific consensus, but the term is frequently used in both scientific and popular contexts, especially when discussing climate change.Example: No discussion about the Anthropocene is complete without examining the role of fossil fuels in changes to our climate and ecosystems.

anthropo-anthropocentric

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