The term Anthropology has been derived from two Greek words, Anthropos and logos. The meaning of the former is man and the latter, science. Therefore, anthropology is the science of man.

But its scope differs from that of the other sciences of man. Anthropology studies the different aspects of the life of man right from the date of his origin upto the present day. It, therefore, embraces a vast field. 

Anthropology can be called as the whole study of man as it views him from different angles, e.g, physical features, differences, cultural variations, social, political, religious, and other affairs. 

Herskovits has rightly remarked that Anthropology is the study of man and his works.

Anthropology is divided into four main subfields: 

• Cultural or social anthropology
• Linguistic anthropology
• Archaeology
• Physical or biological anthropology

Each of these, in turn, is divided into several more specialised areas of interest. This four-field approach concerns all aspects of humanity across space and time. Each subdiscipline emphasises distinct aspects of the human experience, yet together they provide insights into the variations in human biological and behavioral adaptations. Furthermore, each of these subfields has practical applications, which is a key focus of applied anthropology—a discipline that holds great significance in contemporary society.