'anthropophagus' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'anthropophagos', where 'anthropos' meant 'human' and 'phagein' meant 'to eat'.

'anthropophagos' passed into Late Latin and Medieval Latin (e.g. 'anthropophagus') and then into Middle English and modern English as 'anthropophagus'.

Initially it meant 'human-eater' (literally 'one who eats humans'), and this core meaning has been retained into modern usage, though it is now rare and often archaic or literary.