human
1 of 2adjective
hu·man ˈhyü-mən 
ˈyü-
1
: of, relating to, or characteristic of humans (see human entry 2)
the human brain
human voices
problems that have occurred throughout human history
2
: consisting of or involving humans
everyone held hands and made a human chain
human interactions
human spaceflight
3
a
: having human form or attributes
the statue is more human than the beings at his feet
Clifton Fadiman
Clifton Fadiman b
: representative of or susceptible to the sympathies and frailties of human nature
human kindness
a human weakness
such an inconsistency is very human P. E. More
P. E. More humanness
ˈhyü-mən-nəs
noun ˈyü-
human
2 of 2noun
: a bipedal primate mammal (Homo sapiens) : a person : man sense 1c —usually plural
a disease that affects both humans and animalsincomprehensible to us humans William James
William James broadly : hominid
the least developed of all ancestral humans A. L. Kroeber
A. L. Kroeber humanlike
ˈhyü-mən-ˌlīk
adjective ˈyü-
Synonyms
Adjective
- earthborn
- mortal
- natural
Noun
- baby
- being
- bird
- bod [British]
- body
- character
- cookie
- cooky
- creature
- customer
- devil
- duck
- egg
- face
- fish
- guy
- head
- human being
- individual
- life
- man
- mortal
- party
- person
- personage
- scout
- slob
- sort
- soul
- specimen
- stiff
- thing
- wight
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Adjective problems that have occurred throughout human history She is a very kind and human person. The dog's expression was almost human. The assembly line was a human machine. Everyone held hands and formed a human chain. Noun humans are the only mammals not endowed with a natural defense against the elements, such as fur or a thick hide See More
Recent Examples on the Web Stephen Collinson, CNN, 13 Sep. 2022 Cornejo, a primatologist and anthropologist, is the director of the Rainforest Partnership that works with Amazonian and Andean communities providing technical support and educating others on natural resources and human populations. Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 13 Sep. 2022 Beijing says its policies reflect a greater respect for the value of human lives. Selina Cheng, WSJ, 13 Sep. 2022 New England, back when the Sandersons were simply childhood sisters, and returning actor Doug Jones' pre-zombified Billy Butcherson was, well, still a human love interest for Winifred. Joey Nolfi, EW.com, 13 Sep. 2022 Rhue noted that in every situation, there needs to be a combination of AI tools and human intervention used to mitigate bias. Maya Lora, Baltimore Sun, 13 Sep. 2022 One Health is the intersection between animal health, human health and environmental health. Sarah Lapidus, The Arizona Republic, 13 Sep. 2022 Those moments of human connection were extremely rare, of course. Monte Reel, The New Yorker, 13 Sep. 2022 The possibilities are endless — from 360-degree lacefronts to synthetic pieces and human hair in every texture. Danielle James, Good Housekeeping, 12 Sep. 2022 WIRED, 14 Sep. 2022 From studying fossilized skulls, scientists know that the size of a Neanderthal’s brain was the same as, if not slightly bigger than, that of a modern human. Katie Hunt, CNN, 13 Sep. 2022 To me, this is a human with no anxiety, no shame, no fear, and apparently unlimited cabinet space. Serena Dai, Bon Appétit, 2 Sep. 2022 The show features a mix of species—the boss is a thin-limbed human; Pim and Charlie are lavender and yellow blobs—as well as animation styles. Wired, 8 Aug. 2022 Gunty thinks about that line a lot in relation to the experience of being a human among others, including the creatures of the natural world. Los Angeles Times, 28 July 2022 Encased, pigs in gestation crates are unable to do anything but sit and suffer and scream at each new appearance of a human. Matthew Scully, National Review, 11 July 2022 There is still a human behind the decision making and the final purchase! Cathy Hackl, Forbes, 6 July 2022 The life of a fish, like the life of a human, is full of constraints, defeats, and humiliations. Stanley Kunitz, The Atlantic, 6 July 2022 See More
Adjective
The invasion has shown Putin’s indifference to human carnage and a willingness previously shown in conflicts in Chechnya and Syria to rain terror on civilians and to raze cities. Stephen Collinson, CNN, 13 Sep. 2022 Cornejo, a primatologist and anthropologist, is the director of the Rainforest Partnership that works with Amazonian and Andean communities providing technical support and educating others on natural resources and human populations. Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 13 Sep. 2022 Beijing says its policies reflect a greater respect for the value of human lives. Selina Cheng, WSJ, 13 Sep. 2022 New England, back when the Sandersons were simply childhood sisters, and returning actor Doug Jones' pre-zombified Billy Butcherson was, well, still a human love interest for Winifred. Joey Nolfi, EW.com, 13 Sep. 2022 Rhue noted that in every situation, there needs to be a combination of AI tools and human intervention used to mitigate bias. Maya Lora, Baltimore Sun, 13 Sep. 2022 One Health is the intersection between animal health, human health and environmental health. Sarah Lapidus, The Arizona Republic, 13 Sep. 2022 Those moments of human connection were extremely rare, of course. Monte Reel, The New Yorker, 13 Sep. 2022 The possibilities are endless — from 360-degree lacefronts to synthetic pieces and human hair in every texture. Danielle James, Good Housekeeping, 12 Sep. 2022 Noun
The presence of another human immediately forces me to get my head together. WIRED, 14 Sep. 2022 From studying fossilized skulls, scientists know that the size of a Neanderthal’s brain was the same as, if not slightly bigger than, that of a modern human. Katie Hunt, CNN, 13 Sep. 2022 To me, this is a human with no anxiety, no shame, no fear, and apparently unlimited cabinet space. Serena Dai, Bon Appétit, 2 Sep. 2022 The show features a mix of species—the boss is a thin-limbed human; Pim and Charlie are lavender and yellow blobs—as well as animation styles. Wired, 8 Aug. 2022 Gunty thinks about that line a lot in relation to the experience of being a human among others, including the creatures of the natural world. Los Angeles Times, 28 July 2022 Encased, pigs in gestation crates are unable to do anything but sit and suffer and scream at each new appearance of a human. Matthew Scully, National Review, 11 July 2022 There is still a human behind the decision making and the final purchase! Cathy Hackl, Forbes, 6 July 2022 The life of a fish, like the life of a human, is full of constraints, defeats, and humiliations. Stanley Kunitz, The Atlantic, 6 July 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Adjective and Noun
Middle English humain, from Anglo-French, from Latin humanus; akin to Latin homo human being — more at homage
First Known Use
Adjective
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Noun
1509, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing human
Kids Definition
human 1 of 2
adjective
hu·man ˈhyü-mən
ˈyü-
1
: of, being, or characteristic of people as distinct from animals
the human body
2
: having the form or characteristics of people
The expression on the dog's face was almost human.
human
2 of 2noun
: human being
Medical Definition
human 1 of 2
adjective
hu·man ˈhyü-mən ˈyü-
ˈyü- 1
a
: of, relating to, or characteristic of humans
the human body
human biochemistry
b
: primarily or usually harbored by, affecting, or attacking humans
human diseases
human parasites
2
: being or consisting of humans
the human race
3
: consisting of members of the family Hominidae : hominid
human
2 of 2noun
: a bipedal primate mammal of the genus Homo (H. sapiens) : man
broadly : hominid
human 1 of 2
adjective
as in natural
relating to or characteristic of human beings it's human nature to care about what people think of us Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- natural
- mortal
- humanoid
- hominid
- humanlike
- anthropoid
- earthborn
- creatural
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- nonhuman
- divine
- superhuman
- supernatural
- animal
- angelic
- godlike
- immortal
- supernormal
- preternatural
- omnipotent
- brute
- bestial
- omniscient
- angelical
- robotic
- inhuman
- subhuman
- beastly
- infrahuman
human
2 of 2noun
as in person
a member of the human race humans are the only mammals not endowed with a natural defense against the elements, such as fur or a thick hide Synonyms & Similar Words
- person
- life
- man
- creature
- individual
- guy
- mortal
- soul
- body
- bird
- being
- thing
- character
- customer
- fish
- baby
- personality
- human being
- specimen
- duck
- sort
- egg
- personage
- devil
- face
- wight
- bod
- party
- scout
- cookie
- humanoid
- fellow
- stiff
- hominid
- cooky
- homo
- son of man
- slob
- self
- head
- brother
- neighbor
- celebrity
- somebody
- fellowman
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- animal
- brute
- beast
- critter
- beastie