humane

adjective

hu·​mane hyü-ˈmān 

yü-

1

: marked by compassion, sympathy, or consideration for humans or animals

humane prison guards

a more humane way of treating farm animals

2

: characterized by or tending to broad humanistic culture : humanistic

humane studies

humanely adverb

humaneness

hyü-ˈmān-nəs 

yü-

noun

Synonyms of humane

• compassionate
• benevolent
• kind

Examples of humane in a Sentence

It's not humane to treat animals that way.

Conditions in the prison are more humane now.

Recent Examples on the Web

In June, Nehemiah became the humane society's first volunteer to reach the 100-hour milestone, and the Jacksonville Humane Society presented him with a certificate to show its appreciation for his efforts. — ABC News, 23 July 2026

Puncturing the lobster kills it instantly, which isn’t a humane way of hunting them, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. — David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 23 July 2026

The attacks are heavily telegraphed, and the timing window for a successful parry is mercifully humane. — Ollie Barder, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026

Each swap reads as a humane correction to a system that MAHA believes overprescribes, overdiagnoses, and underinvests in the conditions — sleep, nutrition, safety, connection — that shape how people feel. — Sunny Patel, STAT, 17 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English humain

First Known Use

1552, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for humane

• abstain
• airplane
• alkane
• arcane
• arraign
• attain
• backplane
• betaine
• biplane
• blockchain
• butane
• campaign

Kids Definition

humane

adjective

hu·​mane hyü-ˈmān 

yü-

: marked by sympathy or consideration for others

humanely adverb

humaneness

-ˈmān-nəs 

noun