humanity

noun

hu·​man·​i·​ty hyü-ˈma-nə-tē 

yü-

plural humanities

1

: compassionate, sympathetic, or generous behavior or disposition : the quality or state of being humane

… bespeaking humanity for the enemy in the midst of a bloody struggle.

—C. G. Bowers

2

a

: the quality or state of being human

joined together by their common humanity

b

humanities plural : human attributes or qualities

His work has the ripeness of the 18th century, and its rough humanities …

—Pamela H. Johnson

3

humanities plural : the branches of learning (such as philosophy, arts, or languages) that investigate human constructs (see construct entry 2 sense 1a) and concerns as opposed to natural processes (as in physics or chemistry) and social relations (as in anthropology or economics)

4

: the totality of human beings : the human race : humankind

… a fierce compassion for the woes of humanity.

—Maurice Bowra

Synonyms of humanity

• world
• people

Examples of humanity in a Sentence

We appealed to his sense of humanity.

These discoveries will be of benefit to all humanity.

She was cut off from the rest of humanity.

the college of arts and humanities

He's taking courses in both the sciences and the humanities.

Recent Examples on the Web

Advertisement That became clear when Singapore nominated its hawker culture for UNESCO’s intangible cultural heritage of humanity list in 2018, much to the chagrin of Malaysians who contended that it can be found elsewhere. —Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 21 Nov. 2025

This anecdote about Galileo has taken on an outsize role in the story of how humanity went from exploring the Universe through pure thought to learning by experiment. —Literary Hub, 19 Nov. 2025

As the once-novel technology takes root in systems large and small, Sanders called on leaders to consider how AI will change war, and what that means for humanity. —Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 19 Nov. 2025

By combining technology, accessibility and humanity, the organization empowers individuals, reduces hospital strain and strengthens communities. —CBS News, 18 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

see human entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing humanity

• crime against humanity

Rhymes for humanity

• inanity
• insanity
• profanity
• urbanity
• christianity
• inhumanity
• sanity
• vanity

Kids Definition

humanity

noun

hu·​man·​i·​ty hyü-ˈman-ət-ē 

yü-

plural humanities

1

: the quality or state of being human or of being humane

2

plural : studies (as literature, history, and art) concerned primarily with human culture

3

: the whole collection of human beings both past and present