human

1 of 3

adjective (1)

hu·​man ˈhyü-mən  ˈyü- 

1

: of, relating to, or characteristic of humans (see human entry 2)

the human brain

human voices

problems that have occurred throughout human history

2

: consisting of or involving humans

everyone held hands and made a human chain

human interactions

human spaceflight

3

a

: having human form or attributes

The statue is more human than the beings at his feet.

—Clifton Fadiman

b

: representative of or susceptible to the sympathies and frailties of human nature

human kindness

a human weakness

such an inconsistency is very human

—P. E. More

humanness

ˈhyü-mən-nəs 

ˈyü-

noun

human

2 of 3

noun

: a bipedal primate mammal (Homo sapiens) : a person : man sense 1c

—usually plural

a disease that affects both humans and animals

… incomprehensible to us humans.

—William James

broadly : hominid

… the least developed of all ancestral humans

—A. L. Kroeber

humanlike

ˈhyü-mən-ˌlīk 

ˈyü-

adjective

humane

3 of 3

adjective (2)

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 human

Adjective (1)

• natural
• mortal

Noun

• person
• life
• man
• guy
• creature
• individual

Adjective (2)

• compassionate
• benevolent
• kind

Examples of human in a Sentence

Adjective (1)

problems that have occurred throughout human history

She is a very kind and human person.

The dog's expression was almost human.

The assembly line was a human machine.

Everyone held hands and formed a human chain.

Noun

humans are the only mammals not endowed with a natural defense against the elements, such as fur or a thick hide

Adjective (2)

It's not humane to treat animals that way.

Conditions in the prison are more humane now.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Court documents allege that MacLean and Taylor sold human body parts to numerous buyers and that MacLean also stored and sold remains in Kat's Creepy Creations, her store in Salem, Massachusetts. — CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026

The institution's permanent collection of more than eight million works, which documents the story of human culture from well before Classical Antiquity to the present day, is also among the largest in existence. — Paul Jebara, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Aug. 2026

Noun

But blaming the technology risks obscuring the fact that humans write the code, select the data on which AI systems are trained, approve their use, and decide where and how they are deployed. — Shaun Harper, AJC.com, 18 Aug. 2026

Proponents argue this reveals the AI's full capabilities, including potential for cyberattacks, while critics warn of severe risks like AI wreaking havoc, creating viruses, or tricking humans. — Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026

Adjective

The right mix of true and imagined can give the simplest of humane narratives — in this case, the possibility of renewal in an epidemic of hurt — a fresher chance to touch us. — Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026

The extermination method should be both practical and humane. — Bestreviews, Mercury News, 11 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective (1) and Noun

Middle English humain, from Anglo-French, from Latin humanus; akin to Latin homo human being — more at homage

Adjective (2)

Middle English humain

First Known Use

Adjective (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Noun

1509, in the meaning defined above

Adjective (2)

1552, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing human

• a human chain
• human being
• human capital
• human chattel
• human chorionic gonadotropin
• human contact
• human ecology
• human engineering
• human error
• human factors
• human granulocytic anaplasmosis
• human granulocytic ehrlichiosis
• human growth hormone
• human immunodeficiency virus
• human interest
• human-interest story
• human leukocyte antigen
• human metapneumovirus
• human nature
• human papillomavirus
• human relations
• human remains
• human resources
• human right
• human rights
• human rights abuse
• human shield
• human trafficking
• milk of human kindness
• put a human face on
• the human animal
• the human condition
• the human race
• the milk of human kindness
• to err is human

Rhymes for human

• crewman
• crewmen
• cumin
• lumen
• numen
• rumen
• suman
• acumen
• albumen
• albumin
• bitumen
• cerumen

Kids Definition

human

1 of 2 adjective

hu·​man ˈhyü-mən 

ˈyü-

1

: relating to or characteristic of human beings

especially : showing qualities typical of human beings

a human failing

2

: consisting of or involving human beings

human spaceflight

3

: having human form or characteristics

the dog's expression was almost human

humanness

-mən-nəs 

noun

human

2 of 2 noun

: a human being

humanlike

-ˌlīk 

adjective

Medical Definition

human

1 of 2 adjective

hu·​man ˈhyü-mən  ˈyü- 

1

a

: of, relating to, or characteristic of humans

the human body

human biochemistry

b

: primarily or usually harbored by, affecting, or attacking humans

human diseases

human parasites

2

: being or consisting of humans

the human race

3

: consisting of members of the genus Homo

humanness

-mən-nəs 

noun

human

2 of 2 noun

: a bipedal primate mammal of the genus Homo (H. sapiens)

broadly : any living or extinct member of the genus Homo

humanlike

-ˌlīk 

adjective