humanist

[ hyoo-muh-nistor, often, yoo- ]

noun

1. a person having a strong interest in or concern for human welfare, values, and dignity.
2. a person devoted to or versed in the humanities.
3. a student of human nature or affairs.
4. a classical scholar.
5. (sometimes initial capital letter) any one of the scholars of the Renaissance who pursued and disseminated the study and understanding of the cultures of ancient Rome and Greece, and emphasized secular, individualistic, and critical thought.
6. (sometimes initial capital letter) a person who follows a form of philosophical or scientific humanism.

adjective

1. of or relating to human affairs, nature, welfare, or values:

   our humanist principles; a humanist approach to social reform.

2. (sometimes initial capital letter) of or relating to the humanities or classical scholarship, especially that of the Renaissance humanists:

   humanist studies; the Humanist ideology of Petrarch.

3. of or relating to philosophical or scientific humanism:

   a humanist philosophy that clashed with his parents’ religious beliefs.

humanist

1. In the Renaissance , a scholar who studied the languages and cultures of ancient Greece and Rome ; today, a scholar of the humanities . The term secular humanist is applied to someone who concentrates on human activities and possibilities, usually downplaying or denying the importance of God and a life after death.

Other Words From

• human·isti·cal·ly adverb
• anti·human·ist noun adjective
• anti·human·istic adjective
• non·huma·nist noun
• nonhu·man·istic adjective
• pseudo·human·istic adjective
• quasi-human·istic adjective
• semi·human·istic adjective
• unhu·man·istic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of humanist¹

First recorded in 1585–95; from Middle French, French humaniste “classics scholar, classicist”; equivalent to human + -ist

Example Sentences

I found much-needed wisdom in essay collections, in workbooks for children, even in a “field guide” by an environmental humanist who has spent years unpacking these feelings with her students.

From Los Angeles Times

“It comes from the humanist philosophy that sees humanity at the center of the universe. The voice transmits the human spirit musically.”

From Seattle Times

Through dialogue and action, the player is frequently forced to make choices — labeled humanist, utilitarian, Machiavellian or nihilist — that profoundly alter the way the story unfolds.

From New York Times

There’s a deeply humanist core to Stolevski’s work, which varies in genre and tone, but always captures the bittersweet beauty of life.

From Los Angeles Times

A staunch humanist, Rohrwacher makes movies that are primed for immortality.

From Los Angeles Times