nonhuman

adjective

non·​hu·​man ˌnän-ˈhyü-mən 

-ˈyü-

: not human: such as

a

: being other than a human being

a nonhuman primate/animal

b

: not belonging to, appropriate to, or produced by human beings

nonhuman noises

nonhuman cells

nonhuman noun

Discarding the doctrine of human dignity can mean lowering the moral status of humans or raising the moral status of nonhumans, and Mr. Rachels's emphasis is ultimately on the latter.

—Robert Wright

Examples of nonhuman in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

How realistic was the portrayal of communication between a human and a creature with nonhuman speech? —Tara Haelle, NPR, 12 Apr. 2026

Ethical questions surrounding the creation of religious AI platforms are among the reasons beingAI’s founder Jeanne Lim has not released its AI named Emi Jido — a nonhuman Buddhist priest — after years of training and development. —ABC News, 10 Apr. 2026

Despite the geopolitical and financial constraints, the sea-level canal studies employed hundreds of researchers who increased knowledge of the isthmus and its human and nonhuman inhabitants. —The Conversation, Fortune, 3 Apr. 2026

Despite the geopolitical and financial constraints, the sea-level canal studies employed hundreds of researchers who increased knowledge of the isthmus and its human and nonhuman inhabitants. —Christine Keiner, The Conversation, 2 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1839, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for nonhuman

• acumen
• albumen
• albumin
• bitumen
• cerumen
• curcumin
• illumine
• inhuman
• subhuman
• crewman
• crewmen
• cumin