'anthropological' originates from Greek, specifically from the elements 'anthrōpos' and 'logia' (via Latin and modern English formation), where 'anthrōpos' meant 'human' and 'logia' meant 'study, discourse'.

'anthropological' developed from the noun 'anthropology' (from French/Latin 'anthropologia'), which itself comes from Greek 'anthrōpos' + 'logia'. The adjective formed in English by adding the suffix '-ical' to 'anthropology'.

Initially tied directly to the academic study of humans ('study of humans'), it has remained broadly consistent but expanded to describe methods, perspectives, and items relating to that study (e.g., 'anthropological evidence', 'anthropological approach').