In the Anthropocene, soil development is likely to be influenced by human activities. Within the aim of sustainable management of anthropized soils, studying their pedogenesis is essential. Potential specificities of pedogenesis in highly anthropized environments have been discussed based on the works of the group of the International Union of Soil Sciences dedicated to the soils in urban, industrial, traffic, military and mining areas (SUITMAs) as well as a review of literature. Human activities can modify directly or indirectly the soil-forming factors: (i) the parent materials, e.g. by excavation and transport of soil materials, incorporation and fragmentation of geologic and anthropogenic materials (i.e. artefacts) or sealing, (ii) the topography and hydrology by earthworks, mining activities or impacts of bombings, (iii) the climate through global but also local changes such as urban heat island, (iv) the biota by introducing exogeneous species or by altering their habitat, and (v) the time depending on the history of human land uses and their degree of impact on soil development. As a result, there is a high diversity of SUITMAs displaying a wide range of soil properties. Main pedogenetic processes observed in a range of SUITMAs include the leaching of particles and soluble compounds, mineralogical changes, accumulation of organic matter, development of soil structure as well as the development of horizons. These processes are similar with those driving the pedogenesis of natural soils. However, their assemblage, localization and temporality may be specific in anthropized areas. Indeed, the relative independence to the climatic factor, the high diversity and spatial heterogeneity of the parent materials and the succession of human operations may create the conditions to have combinations of processes rarely encountered in natural soils developing in the same climatic region. Interactions between these processes may orientate the trajectory of evolution of these soils. The diversity and relatively young age of SUITMAs as well as global environmental changes make difficult the prediction of their long-term evolution. These soils are likely to display polycyclic or complex evolution driven by human disturbances and the persistence of their impacts in the soil. The superimposition of distinct types of materials could generate separate trajectories of evolution between the layers or within a restricted area, leading to a high pedodiversity. However, the relative homogeneity of anthropogenic processes across the world could also lead to a convergence of soil characteristics between SUITMAs of similar land uses from various locations despite the variability of the natural factors.