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Synonyms

human being

American  

noun

  1. any individual of the genus Homo, especially a member of the species Homo sapiens.

  2. a person, especially as distinguished from other animals or as representing the human species.

    living conditions not fit for human beings; a very generous human being.
human being British  

noun

  1. a member of any of the races of Homo sapiens; person; man, woman, or child

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of human being

First recorded in 1855–60

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Thanks to “Cosmic Music,” anyone interested in her life and work doesn’t have to go comb through microfilm or ancient magazines to learn more about this unbelievably accomplished and completely fascinating human being.

From Salon • Apr. 14, 2026

Tears are hard to summon for a man whose soul and spirit have long since departed, leaving behind just the husk of a human being.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

West told Jones that the Nazi leader, like every human being, had brought value to the world.

From BBC • Apr. 7, 2026

It came down to a straightforward question, she said: What kind of human being do you want to be?

From Salon • Apr. 6, 2026

Heaven was the blue vault on high, but it acted in some ways as a human being would.

From "Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes" by Edith Hamilton

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.