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

The inside of her phone case tested positive for human blood, court records said. — Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 22 July 2026

Cyclosporiasis is an intestinal illness caused by Cyclospora cayetanensis, a microscopic parasite people acquire by eating fresh produce grown or washed with water carrying human waste. — John Drake, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026

Noun

In a survey of 2,778 AI researchers conducted in 2023, the aggregate forecast put a 50% chance of machines outperforming humans at every task by 2047. — Robert J. Szczerba, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026

And, crucially, removing fuel is the only element of the natural factors affecting the spread of a wildfire that humans can control. — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 28 July 2026

Adjective

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

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