'anthropocentrically' ultimately derives from the adjective 'anthropocentric' (formed in English), which combines Greek 'anthropos' meaning 'human' and Greek 'kentron' meaning 'center', with the English adverbial ending '-ly' (via Latin/Old French adjectival/adverbial formations).

'anthropocentric' was formed in English (in the 19th–20th centuries) from the noun 'anthropocentrism' (itself built from Greek roots 'anthropos' + 'kentron'); the adverb 'anthropocentrically' was later created by adding the standard English adverbial suffix '-ly' (or the combining form '-ically').

Initially used to describe the doctrine or viewpoint that places humans at the center ('anthropocentrism'); over time the adjective and adverb forms have been used both descriptively and critically to denote actions, perspectives, or policies that prioritize human interests over nonhuman nature.