humanitarian
noun
hu·man·i·tar·i·an
hyü-ˌma-nə-ˈter-ē-ən 
yü-
: a person promoting human welfare and social reform : philanthropist
recognized as a great humanitarian for her work to end world hunger
humanitarian
adjective
Examples of humanitarian in a Sentence
She has been recognized as a great humanitarian for her efforts to end world hunger.
Recent Examples on the Web
These interventions, however, succeed only if humanitarians have the space and safety to do their jobs.
—
Hardin Lang, Foreign Affairs, 1 Mar. 2024
Support continued even as Netanyahu publicly defied the United States on virtually all major issues, including the administration’s desire to see the return of the Palestinian Authority to Gaza, a massive increase in the amount of humanitarian into the enclave and a pathway to a Palestinian state.
—Toluse Olorunnipa, Washington Post, 26 Mar. 2024
As the group that arrived at MIA on Thursday was getting off their flight, the United Nations resident coordinator and chief humanitarian for Haiti, Ulrika Richardson, issued a plea for help.
—Syra Ortiz Blanes, Miami Herald, 22 Mar. 2024
Richard was a comedy rock star, a humanitarian, one of the all-time greats.
—Elayne Boosler, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2024
An active student humanitarian Since his college days, Sharma has been using his technical skills to give back to communities around the world.
—IEEE Spectrum, 24 Sep. 2023
Abbott seems not to be moved by the idea that the government has legal, or humanitarian, responsibilities to people crossing the border.
—Rachel Monroe, The New Yorker, 8 Feb. 2024
Khan, the humanitarian, said the process is essentially paralyzed; weeks pass without movement on Ukrainian evacuations.
—Anastacia Galouchka, Washington Post, 7 Feb. 2024
Yet even as much of the world urged Israel to ease the humanitarian in Gaza, the United Nations turned to investigate the main aid agency for Palestinians in the territory, prompted by Israel’s accusation that 12 agency employees had joined the Oct. 7 attack or its aftermath.
—Michael Levenson, New York Times, 5 Feb. 2024
Hardin Lang, Foreign Affairs, 1 Mar. 2024
Support continued even as Netanyahu publicly defied the United States on virtually all major issues, including the administration’s desire to see the return of the Palestinian Authority to Gaza, a massive increase in the amount of humanitarian into the enclave and a pathway to a Palestinian state.
—Toluse Olorunnipa, Washington Post, 26 Mar. 2024
As the group that arrived at MIA on Thursday was getting off their flight, the United Nations resident coordinator and chief humanitarian for Haiti, Ulrika Richardson, issued a plea for help.
—Syra Ortiz Blanes, Miami Herald, 22 Mar. 2024
Richard was a comedy rock star, a humanitarian, one of the all-time greats.
—Elayne Boosler, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2024
An active student humanitarian Since his college days, Sharma has been using his technical skills to give back to communities around the world.
—IEEE Spectrum, 24 Sep. 2023
Abbott seems not to be moved by the idea that the government has legal, or humanitarian, responsibilities to people crossing the border.
—Rachel Monroe, The New Yorker, 8 Feb. 2024
Khan, the humanitarian, said the process is essentially paralyzed; weeks pass without movement on Ukrainian evacuations.
—Anastacia Galouchka, Washington Post, 7 Feb. 2024
Yet even as much of the world urged Israel to ease the humanitarian in Gaza, the United Nations turned to investigate the main aid agency for Palestinians in the territory, prompted by Israel’s accusation that 12 agency employees had joined the Oct. 7 attack or its aftermath.
—Michael Levenson, New York Times, 5 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'humanitarian.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near humanitarian
Cite this Entry
“Humanitarian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/humanitarian. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
humanitarian
noun
hu·man·i·tar·i·an
hyü-ˌman-ə-ˈter-ē-ən
yü-
: a person devoted to or working for the health and happiness of other people
humanitarian
adjective
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