humility

noun hu·mil·i·ty \ hyü-ˈmi-lə-tē , yü- \

Updated on: 10 May 2018

Definition of humility

: freedom from pride or arrogance : the quality or state of being humble

accepted the honor with humility

The ordeal taught her humility.

See humility defined for English-language learners

See humility defined for kids

Examples of humility in a Sentence

He accepted the honor with humility.
The ordeal taught her humility.

Recent Examples of humility from the Web

Despite a seeming attraction to the spotlight, Comey writes of weaknesses and humility, highlighting his own limitations, in a manner that comes across as sincere.

— t.a. frank, The Hive, "A Note to Woke Washington: The Bush Administration Was So Much Worse," 4 May 2018
Romeo Langford’s career has been a point of pride for his entire community, and the hype that has preceded him since middle school has always been met with humility and grace.

— zach osterman, Indianapolis Star, "Insider: How Archie Miller landed Romeo Langford, against the odds," 1 May 2018
People who have higher intellectual humility also perform better in school and at work.

— francesca gino, Scientific American, "Why Too Much Experience Can Backfire," 24 Apr. 2018
The faceoff indicates Warren doesn’t believe Mulvaney’s pledges since taking over the CFPB in November to continue carrying out its duties and to run the agency with humility.

— elizabeth dexheimer, Bloomberg.com, "Warren Isn’t Buying Mulvaney’s Pledge to Keep the CFPB Alive," 12 Apr. 2018
Doc: Where the Cincinnati Reds stand right now More: Bryan Price sees Finnegan as a starter right now There's a confidence Greene carries himself with, but it's cloaked in humility, politeness and an easy-going sensibility.

— adam baum, Cincinnati.com, "Reds prospect Hunter Greene on 1st spring camp: 'All of it's been pretty special'," 6 Mar. 2018
His strenuous expressions of humility can approach self-parody.

— kathryn schulz, The New Yorker, "McMaster and Commander," 23 Apr. 2018
Young footballers at top clubs are seen by many to be too privileged in the modern era, earning vast sums of money while still teenagers and occasionally losing perspective, humility, drive and motivation.

— SI.com, "REVEALED: How Lionel Messi Helps to Keep Man Utd Rising Academy Stars Grounded," 10 Apr. 2018
Self must navigate ego against humility, confidence against diligence, while working through a bigger reality that — particularly with Kansas football still non-competitive — his entire athletic department depends on his program.

— sam mellinger, kansascity, "KU Jayhawks coach Bill Self and riding the lion: 'He feels like a failure if he doesn't' | The Kansas City Star," 30 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'humility.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Humility: Its Use and Meaning

Humility means “the state of being humble.” Both it and humble have their origin in the Latin word humilis, meaning "low."

Humble can be used to describe what is ranked low by others, as in "persons of humble origins." People also use the word of themselves and things associated with themselves; if you describe yourself as "but a humble editor" or refer to your home as your "humble abode," you are saying that neither you nor your home is very impressive.

Like this latter use of humble, the kind of lowness expressed in the word humility is typically one chosen by oneself. Here are some examples of humility in use:

When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.
— Proverbs 11:2

A sudden humility descended upon the King. He felt, as so many men were to feel in similar circumstances in ages to come, as though he were a child looking eagerly for guidance to an all-wise master—a child, moreover, handicapped by water on the brain, feet three sizes too large for him, and hands consisting mainly of thumbs.
— P. G. Wodehouse, The Clicking of Cuthbert, 1922

Eating grits and fatback for breakfast and washing up every morning in cold water from a hydrant in the backyard helped one learn humility and humanity.
— Julius Lester, Falling Pieces of Broken Sky, 1990

I realize now that she had an awareness of the nature of the order of life, and of the necessity of living with and respecting that order. With this respect comes a necessary humility that we, with our early-21st-century chutzpah, lack at our peril.
— Bill Joy, Wired, April 2000

Who has not gazed at the night sky, mouth slightly agape? The experience is so common, its effects so uniform, that a standard vocabulary has evolved to describe it. Invariably we speak of the profound humility we feel before the enormity of the universe. We are as bits of dust in a spectacle whose scope beggars the imagination, whose secrets make a mockery of reason.
— Edwin Dobb, Harper's, February 1995

If leadership has a secret sauce, it may well be humility. A humble boss understands that there are things he doesn't know. He listens: not only to the other bigwigs in Davos, but also to the kind of people who don't get invited, such as his customers.
—The Economist, 26 Jan. 2013