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

From animal welfare to AI models, research often frames questions in ways that center human priorities and exclude nonhuman perspectives. —Jonny Thomson, Big Think, 8 Oct. 2025

In the 21st century, the moral entrepreneurs include media personalities and social influencers as well as the nonhuman bots and algorithms whose authority is derived by constructing the illusion of broad consensus. —Ron Barrett, The Conversation, 2 Oct. 2025

Water tests found that the channel contains nonhuman fecal DNA. —Adrian Rodriguez, Mercury News, 29 Sep. 2025

Humans get a head-start over nonhuman spirits or creatures called yaoguai. —Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 22 Aug. 2025

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