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

Complex, intricate, and at all times realistic and humane, Famous Men is the pinnacle of the attempt to capture this specific and yet, all too universal, formative experience of enmeshment, devotion, and ego-death. — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 July 2026

His goal was to build a socialist movement that would eventually pull the Democratic Party toward more humane domestic and foreign policies. — Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 1 July 2026

How to transform these artworks into an exhibition nurturing a feminist and humane society? — Zehra Jumabhoy, Artforum, 25 June 2026

Immigration advocates said the tents were never humane or safe to hold people. — Jeffrey Collins, Los Angeles Times, 25 June 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