humanity

[ hyoo-man-i-teeor, often, yoo- ]

noun

, plural hu·man·i·ties.

1. all human beings collectively; the human race; humankind.
2. the quality or condition of being human; human nature.
3. the quality of being humane; kindness; benevolence.

   Synonyms: tenderness, goodwill, sympathy

   Antonyms: unkindness, inhumanity

4. the humanities,
   1. the study of classical languages and classical literature.
   2. the Latin and Greek classics as a field of study.
   3. literature, philosophy, art, etc., as distinguished from the natural sciences.
   4. the study of literature, philosophy, art, etc.

humanity

/ hjuːˈmænɪtɪ /

noun

1. the human race
2. the quality of being human
3. kindness or mercy
4. the humanities
   plural the study of literature, philosophy, and the arts
5. the study of Ancient Greek and Roman language, literature, etc

Other Words From

• anti·hu·mani·ty noun plural antihumanities
• over·hu·mani·ty noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of humanity¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English humanite, from Latin hūmānitās; equivalent to human + -ity

Example Sentences

His word to us was: “It can’t be just spectacle — you’ve got to capture the humanity of what’s happening.”

From Los Angeles Times

Israel has committed war crimes and crimes against humanity by deliberately causing the mass displacement of Palestinians in Gaza, a report by Human Rights Watch says.

From BBC

“Forced displacement has been widespread, and the evidence shows it has been systematic and part of a state policy. Such acts also constitute crimes against humanity,” HRW says.

From BBC

But Musk has also warned that AI could pose a threat to humanity, and it’s unclear how Trump plans to address potential safety risks that come with technology including fraud, bias and disinformation.

From Los Angeles Times

“I noticed that my kids just didn’t differentiate. It was just such a light bulb moment for me. This is how it should be. More exposure to the full spectrum of humanity.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• compassion
• empathy
• friendship
• generosity
• goodness
• goodwill
• kindness