humanity
noun
hu·man·i·ty
hyü-ˈma-nə-tē 
yü-
plural humanities
1
: compassionate, sympathetic, or generous behavior or disposition : the quality or state of being humane
bespeaking humanity for the enemy in the midst of a bloody struggle—
C. G. Bowers
C. G. Bowers2
3
humanities plural
: the branches of learning (such as philosophy, arts, or languages) that investigate human constructs (see construct entry 2 sense 1a) and concerns as opposed to natural processes (as in physics or chemistry) and social relations (as in anthropology or economics)
4
: the totality of human beings : the human race : humankind
a fierce compassion for the woes of humanity—Maurice Bowra
Maurice BowraExamples of humanity in a Sentence
We appealed to his sense of humanity.
These discoveries will be of benefit to all humanity.
She was cut off from the rest of humanity.
the college of arts and humanities
He's taking courses in both the sciences and the humanities.
Recent Examples on the Web
The Myth of the Lone Genius The third myth is the archetype of the lone genius, toiling away in solitude and isolation to deliver humanity’s next great leap forward.
—Mark Nevins, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025
Not heavily reliant on an explanation or plea for humanity from the audience.
—Isha Sharma, Rolling Stone, 23 Mar. 2025
The state-of-the-art launch vehicle, which SpaceX founder Elon Musk sees as humanity’s ticket to Mars, broke apart minutes into an early March test flight, marking the second Starship explosion this year.
—Edward Woodson, Orlando Sentinel, 21 Mar. 2025
Her luxurious prose and intimate storytelling propel readers along, drawing them into the interconnectedness of humanity.
—Staff, The Christian Science Monitor, 20 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for humanity
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Mark Nevins, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025
Not heavily reliant on an explanation or plea for humanity from the audience.
—Isha Sharma, Rolling Stone, 23 Mar. 2025
The state-of-the-art launch vehicle, which SpaceX founder Elon Musk sees as humanity’s ticket to Mars, broke apart minutes into an early March test flight, marking the second Starship explosion this year.
—Edward Woodson, Orlando Sentinel, 21 Mar. 2025
Her luxurious prose and intimate storytelling propel readers along, drawing them into the interconnectedness of humanity.
—Staff, The Christian Science Monitor, 20 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for humanity
Cite this Entry
“Humanity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/humanity. Accessed 28 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
humanity
noun
hu·man·i·ty
hyü-ˈman-ət-ē
yü-
plural humanities
1
: the quality or state of being human or of being humane
2
plural
: studies (as literature, history, and art) concerned primarily with human culture
3
: the whole collection of human beings both past and present
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