1 synanthrope | Definition of synanthrope
Logo
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

synanthrope

noun
syn·​an·​thrope | \ ˈsi-nan-ˌthrƍp How to pronounce synanthrope (audio) \
plural synanthropes

Definition of synanthrope

: an undomesticated organism and especially an animal (such as a mouse, pigeon, or raccoon) that lives in close association with people and benefits from their surroundings and activities Such birds were synanthropes 
 that is, born wild but inherently predisposed toward associating themselves with humans.— David Quammen, Wild Thoughts from Wild Places, 1998

Other Words from synanthrope

synanthropic \ ˌsi-​nan-​ˈthrĂ€-​pik How to pronounce synanthropic (audio) \ adjective
This and other experiments have established a circumstantial case for the role of the synanthropic fly as a disease vector. — James C. Riley, American Historical Review, October 1986
synanthropy \ si-​ˈnan(t)-​thrə-​pē How to pronounce synanthropy (audio) \ noun
The best explanation of this major development in crow synanthropy is that cities provide protection from being shot, safety from hawks and owls—their major predators—and greater ambient warmth. — Daniel W. Gade, Geographical Review, 1 Apr. 2010

First Known Use of synanthrope

1948, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for synanthrope

noun derivative of earlier synanthrope, adjective, “(of plants) adapted to places lived in or frequented by humans,” borrowed from French, coinage (after misanthrope misanthrope, philanthrope philanthrope, etc.) on the basis of Greek synanthrƍpeĂșesthai, synanthrƍpĂ­zein “to live with humans,” verbal derivative from syn- syn- + ĂĄnthrƍpos “human being”

Note: Term introduced by the German botanist Theodor von Heldreich (1822-1902) in “L’Attique au point de vue des caractĂšres de sa vĂ©gĂ©tation,” CongrĂšs internationale de botanique et d’horticulture, tenu Ă  Paris du 16 au 24 aoĂ»t 1878 (No. 18 of Comptes rendus stĂ©nographiques publiĂ©s sous les auspices du ComitĂ© Central des CongrĂšs et ConfĂ©rences), Paris, 1880, p. 116.

Keep scrolling for more

WORD OF THE DAY

See Definitions and Examples

Get Word of the Day daily email!