humane

adjective

hu·​mane hyü-ˈmān How to pronounce humane (audio)
yü-
1
: marked by compassion, sympathy, or consideration for humans or animals
humane prison guards
a more humane way of treating farm animals
2
: characterized by or tending to broad humanistic culture : humanistic
humane studies
humanely adverb
humaneness noun

Examples of humane in a Sentence

It's not humane to treat animals that way. Conditions in the prison are more humane now.
Recent Examples on the Web The humane society also promised to sponsor all cat adoptions for the rest of March in Garrison’s honor — as well as renaming their cat adoption room in his honor. Kelly Wynne, Peoplemag, 14 Mar. 2024 Twenty percent of proceeds from dog meals will go to the humane society, and its ambassadors will be on hand with adoptable dogs. The San Diego Union-Tribune Staff, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Mar. 2024 Demme, the most humane of filmmakers, had a classical and nearly invisible technique. Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 9 Mar. 2024 But the crisis has defied easy solutions for years, and some critics say his early promises of more humane treatment led traffickers and smugglers to send migrants to America with the false promise that the new president was opening the border. Erica L. Green, New York Times, 29 Feb. 2024 In the 2020 campaign, candidate Biden promised a more humane approach that would be consistent with America's aspirational values. Susan Page, USA TODAY, 6 Mar. 2024 The dog’s name is Crouton, the humane society said in a Feb. 29 Facebook post. Julia Daye, Sacramento Bee, 1 Mar. 2024 That starts with a more humane approach to inmates who are deemed too dangerous to live among other inmates. Steve Glazer, Orange County Register, 12 Feb. 2024 Offering the gamut of services a person might need to turn their life around, the center represents a starkly more humane approach than the neglectful, abusive treatment federal authorities documented in Miami-Dade jails as recently as 2011. Brittany Wallman, Miami Herald, 11 Feb. 2024

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

Word History

Etymology

Middle English humain

First Known Use

1552, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of humane was in 1552

Dictionary Entries Near humane

Cite this Entry

“Humane.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/humane. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

humane

adjective
hu·​mane hyü-ˈmān How to pronounce humane (audio)
yü-
: marked by sympathy or consideration for others
humanely adverb
humaneness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on humane

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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