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

2

a

: the quality or state of being human

joined together by their common humanity

b

humanities plural : human attributes or qualities

his work has the ripeness of the 18th century, and its rough humanities

—Pamela H. Johnson

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

Synonyms

• folks
• humankind
• people
• public
• species
• world

Examples 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

Covert operations expert Zora Bennett (Johansson) attempts to secure the genetic material from the dinosaurs but ends up stranded with a civilian family on an island that holds a secret being kept from humanity for decades. —Ryan Gajewski, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Feb. 2025

The sci-fi/horror flick follows a crew aboard a spaceship called Prometheus who, while seeking the answers to humanity’s origin, find a rogue moon that is home to a malicious, advanced alien species. —Yasmeen Hamadeh, People.com, 2 Feb. 2025

Comments Netflix's Love Is Blind seeks to answer a question that's haunted humanity for centuries: Is love blind? —Randall Colburn, EW.com, 1 Feb. 2025

And yet, Rebuilding was filled with such humanity, such warm detail, and Josh O’Connor made such a wonderfully scruffy sad single dad, that the movie transcended any clichés. Josh O’Connor in Rebuilding. —Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 31 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

see human entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing humanity

• crime against humanity

Kids 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