anthropause: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very lowAcademic / Scientific / Environmental Journalism
Quick answer
What does “anthropause” mean?
The period of markedly reduced human activity and movement globally during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The period of markedly reduced human activity and movement globally during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The measurable global slowdown in human travel, industrial production, and economic activity, especially in 2020, leading to significant environmental changes such as reduced pollution, quieter cities, and altered wildlife behavior. The term can be used retrospectively to refer to that specific historical period, or more broadly to describe any similar temporary global reduction in human impact on nature.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in usage; the term is equally rare and specialized in both varieties.
Connotations
Neutral in both, denoting the same scientific concept.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both. Appears almost exclusively in academic papers, environmental science reports, or quality journalism discussing pandemic-era environmental changes.
Grammar
How to Use “anthropause” in a Sentence
The [NOUN] (anthropause) + VERB (revealed, led to, caused)During/After + the anthropauseThe effects/legacy of + the anthropauseVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “anthropause” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The anthropause period offered unique data for ecologists.
American English
- Anthropause effects were observed in urban noise levels.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used. Might appear in sustainability reports discussing pandemic-era reductions in carbon footprint.
Academic
Primary context. Used in ecology, environmental science, and earth systems research papers.
Everyday
Virtually never used. Would be considered obscure jargon.
Technical
Used as a precise term in scientific literature to refer to the measurable dip in human pressure on ecosystems.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “anthropause”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “anthropause”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “anthropause”
- Using it to refer to any local or individual break (e.g., 'my holiday was an anthropause'). It is a global-scale concept.
- Spelling it as 'anthro-pause' with a hyphen.
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'we need to anthropause').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a very low-frequency, specialized term coined in 2020 and used primarily in scientific and environmental writing.
It is primarily a retrospective term for the COVID-19 period. For a hypothetical future event, phrasing like 'a future anthropause-like event' would be more accurate.
'Anthropocene' refers to the current geological age where human activity is the dominant influence on climate and environment. 'Anthropause' is a temporary break or reduction within that age.
It is neutral and descriptive. The effects of the anthropause (e.g., cleaner air, economic hardship) can be viewed positively or negatively, but the word itself is not loaded.
The period of markedly reduced human activity and movement globally during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Anthropause is usually academic / scientific / environmental journalism in register.
Anthropause: in British English it is pronounced /ˈænθrəʊˌpɔːz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈænθroʊˌpɔːz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of ANTHROPO (human) + PAUSE (a break). It was the 'human pause' that gave nature a temporary respite.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE EARTH IS A SYSTEM UNDER PRESSURE; A REDUCTION IN HUMAN ACTIVITY IS A PAUSE BUTTON.
Practice
Quiz
The term 'anthropause' is most appropriately used in which context?