anatopism Definition
a misplacement of a person, animal, or thing in a time or place where it could not have existed.
Using anatopism: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "anatopism" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The movie featured an anatopism when a character used a smartphone in a scene set in the 1980s.
Example
The book contained several anatopisms, such as a reference to a modern-day politician in a story set in the 1800s.
anatopism Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for anatopism
Phrases with anatopism
a misplacement of a person, animal, or thing in a time or place in history where it could not have existed
Example
The movie was criticized for its historical anatopisms, such as showing characters using technology that did not exist at the time.
a misplacement of a person, animal, or thing in a location where it could not have existed
Example
The novel contained a geographical anatopism when it described a species of plant growing in a region where it could not survive.
a misplacement of a person, animal, or thing in a culture or society where it could not have existed
Example
The play had a cultural anatopism when it portrayed a character with modern-day values in a historical setting.
Origins of anatopism
from Greek 'ana-' meaning 'back' and 'topos' meaning 'place'
Summary: anatopism in Brief
'Anatopism' [uh-nat-uh-piz-uhm] refers to a misplacement of a person, animal, or thing in a time or place where it could not have existed. It is often used in the context of creative works like movies, books, and plays, where it can detract from the realism of the story. Examples include a character using a smartphone in a scene set in the 1980s or a reference to a modern-day politician in a story set in the 1800s.
