adjective
Common
humanitarian
hyuu-ma-nih-TAIR-rih-uhn
Humanitarian (adjective) means Concerned with improving people's welfare and reducing suffering. Example: “The charity runs a humanitarian programme that brings clean water to remote villages.”
adjective
1
Concerned with improving people's welfare and reducing suffering.
"The charity runs a humanitarian programme that brings clean water to remote villages."
"The country sent humanitarian aid after the earthquake."
"Several humanitarian organizations are working in the refugee camps."
noun
1
A person devoted to promoting people's welfare, often through charity work.
"As a humanitarian, he spent his holidays building shelters for families in need."
"She's known as a humanitarian who has donated millions to disaster relief."
"The award recognized his lifetime of humanitarian work."
How to use humanitarian
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishRelating to helping people in need, or a person who does that kind of work.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
humanitarian aid
humanitarian crisis
humanitarian worker
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Word forms
- Plural
- humanitarians
- Comparative
- more humanitarian
- Superlative
- most humanitarian
Fill the gap
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The charity runs a _____ programme that brings clean water to remote villages.
Etymology
From humanity plus the suffix -arian, meaning "one devoted to."
Synonyms
View more →
benevolent
charitable
compassionate
humane
caring
aid worker
humanist
improver
Good Samaritan
altruist
angel
benefactor
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for humanitarian
See all rhymes for humanitarian →Frequently asked questions
What does “humanitarian” mean?
The word “humanitarian” means concerned with improving people's welfare and reducing suffering. In plain terms, relating to helping people in need, or a person who does that kind of work.
How do you pronounce “humanitarian”?
“Humanitarian” is pronounced hyuu-ma-nih-TAIR-rih-uhn (/hjuˌmæ.nəˈtɛ.ɹi.ən/ in IPA).
How do you use “humanitarian” in a sentence?
Here is “humanitarian” used in a sentence: “The country sent humanitarian aid after the earthquake.”
What is another word for “humanitarian”?
Words with a similar meaning to “humanitarian” include Good Samaritan, altruist, angel, benefactor, do-gooder and gentleman.
What is the opposite of “humanitarian”?
The opposite of “humanitarian” — its antonyms — are jerk, schmuck and villain.
What part of speech is “humanitarian”?
Depending on how it is used, “humanitarian” can be an adjective and a noun.
Is “humanitarian” a common word?
“Humanitarian” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “humanitarian” have?
“Humanitarian” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: concerned with improving people's welfare and reducing suffering.
What is the difference between humanitarian and philanthropist?
A humanitarian is anyone devoted to improving people's welfare and reducing suffering, often through direct aid or activism, while a philanthropist specifically gives money or resources to good causes. A humanitarian's work is not defined by donating wealth, whereas a philanthropist's is.
What is the difference between humanitarian and humane?
Humanitarian describes concern with improving people's welfare and reducing suffering, often on an organized scale, while humane describes showing kindness and compassion in the treatment of people or animals. Humane is about merciful behavior, whereas humanitarian is about promoting human welfare.
What is a humanitarian crisis?
A humanitarian crisis is an event or series of events that threatens the health, safety, or wellbeing of a large group of people, such as a famine, war, or natural disaster. Here 'humanitarian' refers to the concern with relieving human suffering.
What are common collocations with humanitarian?
Humanitarian frequently appears in phrases such as 'humanitarian aid,' 'humanitarian crisis,' 'humanitarian effort,' and 'on humanitarian grounds.' 'Humanitarian aid' refers to help such as food, water, and medical care given to people in need.
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