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
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
P. E. More
: 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
William JamesExamples of human in a Sentence
Adjective
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
Recent Examples on the Web
Adam Mills, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Nov. 2025
The disappearance of leopard cats from human settlements coincided with the turbulent centuries between the fall of China’s Han dynasty in AD 220 and the rise of the Tang dynasty in AD 618, when a colder, drier period reduced agricultural output, disrupting the leopard cat’s niche, Luo said.
—Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 28 Nov. 2025
Katherine Dillinger, CNN Money, 22 Nov. 2025
This suggests that humans developed an interest in narrative imagery, myth, and a deep spiritual connection with the natural world far earlier than current documentation shows.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 22 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for human
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Adjective
As the boundary between digital and human instruction continues to blur, language learning is becoming more hybrid, more personal and more immersive.
—Adam Mills, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Nov. 2025
The disappearance of leopard cats from human settlements coincided with the turbulent centuries between the fall of China’s Han dynasty in AD 220 and the rise of the Tang dynasty in AD 618, when a colder, drier period reduced agricultural output, disrupting the leopard cat’s niche, Luo said.
—Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 28 Nov. 2025
Noun
Officials continue to monitor others who were in close contact with the person, but no one else has tested positive for bird flu, and no evidence of human-to-human transmission has been found.
—Katherine Dillinger, CNN Money, 22 Nov. 2025
This suggests that humans developed an interest in narrative imagery, myth, and a deep spiritual connection with the natural world far earlier than current documentation shows.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 22 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for human
Cite this Entry
“Human.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/human. Accessed 29 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
Medical Definition
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
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