humanity
hyoo-MA-nih-tee
Humanity (noun) means People as a whole; the human race. Example: “Clean water should be a basic right for humanity everywhere.”
noun
1
People as a whole; the human race.
"Clean water should be a basic right for humanity everywhere."
"The discovery could benefit all of humanity."
"Humanity has faced many challenges throughout history."
2
Kindness, compassion, and other qualities considered typically human.
"The nurse treated every patient with great humanity."
"His speech was a powerful reminder of our shared humanity."
"The stranger showed real humanity by giving his coat to the shivering child."
How to use humanity
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither people as a group, or the quality of being kind and compassionate.
Common pairings
crimes against humanity
a sense of humanity
all of humanity
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like humanity.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- humanities
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Clean water should be a basic right for _____ everywhere.
Etymology
From Old French humanité, from Latin hūmānitās, built from hūmānus ("human").
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for humanity
See all rhymes for humanity →Frequently asked questions
What does “humanity” mean?
The word “humanity” means people as a whole; the human race. In plain terms, either people as a group, or the quality of being kind and compassionate.
How do you pronounce “humanity”?
“Humanity” is pronounced hyoo-MA-nih-tee (/hjuˈmænɪti/ in IPA).
How do you use “humanity” in a sentence?
Here is “humanity” used in a sentence: “The discovery could benefit all of humanity.”
What part of speech is “humanity”?
“Humanity” is a noun.
Where does the word “humanity” come from?
The word “humanity” comes from Latin. From Old French humanité, from Latin hūmānitās, built from hūmānus ("human").
Is “humanity” a common word?
“Humanity” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “humanity” have?
“Humanity” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: people as a whole; the human race.
What is the difference between "humanity" and "mankind"?
Both can mean the human race as a whole, but "humanity" also carries the sense of compassion and kindness, while "mankind" refers only to people collectively. Many writers now prefer "humanity" or "humankind" as gender-neutral alternatives to "mankind."
What is the difference between "humanity" and "the humanities"?
"Humanity" (singular) means the human race or the quality of being kind, whereas "the humanities" (plural, with "the") refers to academic subjects such as literature, history, and philosophy. The two are related in origin but used quite differently.
What is the difference between "humanity" and "humility"?
The words look similar but differ in meaning: "humanity" means the human race or the quality of compassion, while "humility" means being humble or modest. They are easily confused in writing but are not synonyms.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include humanity:
