nonhuman

adjective

non·​hu·​man ˌnän-ˈhyü-mən How to pronounce nonhuman (audio)
-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 The search for the components of language in nonhuman animals now extends to the far reaches of our phylogenetic tree, encompassing creatures that may communicate in radically unfamiliar ways. Sonia Shah, New York Times, 20 Sep. 2023 Researchers consider the possibility of nonhuman animals dreaming during REM-like sleep because creatures act out waking-like behaviors in this state—like the cephalopods’ pattern-flashing or the spiders’ spinneret-shaking. Carolyn Wilke, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 Sep. 2023 Researchers consider the possibility of nonhuman animals dreaming during REM-like sleep because creatures act out waking-like behaviors in this state — like the cephalopods’ pattern-flashing or the spiders’ spinneret-shaking. Carolyn Wilke, Popular Science, 6 Sep. 2023 Christian Rutz, a biologist at the University of St. Andrews, believes that one of the essential tasks of conservation is to preserve nonhuman ways of being. Camille Bromley, WIRED, 29 Aug. 2023 Copyright law wasn’t designed to reach nonhuman actors, Howell said. Winston Cho, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Aug. 2023 And xenotransplantation – the process by which nonhuman animal organs are transplanted into humans – opened doors for all scientists in this field. Doris Taylor, Fortune Well, 11 Aug. 2023 At a trade conference in May, Tessera presented updates on its sickle cell disease research and data from nonhuman primate trials for PKU. Paolo Confino, Fortune, 10 Aug. 2023 Mingle with nonhuman locals at the Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge. Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 8 Aug. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'nonhuman.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1839, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of nonhuman was in 1839

Dictionary Entries Near nonhuman

Cite this Entry

“Nonhuman.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nonhuman. Accessed 3 Oct. 2023.

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