actor-network

noun

A web of relationships insisting that society is built not by only humans, but also nonhuman objects which interact with the world as well.

OriginFrench acteur-réseau →
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Meanings

nounactor-network (plural actor-networks)

plural actor-networks

  1. human sciencesA web of relationships insisting that society is built not by only humans, but also nonhuman objects which interact with the world as well.

Origin

  1. Frenchacteur-réseau
  2. Englishactor-network

Coined by sociologist Michel Callon in 1986, a calque of French acteur-réseau.

More words from French

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

actor-network. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/actor-network

MLA

“actor-network.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/actor-network. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “actor-network,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/actor-network.

Source: actor-network on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.