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
: a bipedal primate mammal (Homo sapiens) : a person : man sense 1c
—usually plural
a disease that affects both humans and animals
incomprehensible to us humans—William James
William JamesSynonyms
Adjective
Noun
Examples of human in a Sentence
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
Recent Examples on the Web
Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 13 Nov. 2024
Police investigate after a human head washed ashore on Key Biscayne, Fla., on Tuesday morning.
—Antonio Planas, NBC News, 13 Nov. 2024
Wendy Wisner, Health, 3 Nov. 2024
Better understanding the history of humans voting with their feet will hopefully inspire leaders and individual contributors alike to be more intentional about where, when and how to work.
—Phil Kirschner, Forbes, 3 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for human 
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illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of
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Adjective
Several fossil teeth dating back 1.77 million years hold some important clues into our ape and human origins.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 13 Nov. 2024
Police investigate after a human head washed ashore on Key Biscayne, Fla., on Tuesday morning.
—Antonio Planas, NBC News, 13 Nov. 2024
Noun
Three types of lice impact humans: head lice, body lice, and pubic lice.
—Wendy Wisner, Health, 3 Nov. 2024
Better understanding the history of humans voting with their feet will hopefully inspire leaders and individual contributors alike to be more intentional about where, when and how to work.
—Phil Kirschner, Forbes, 3 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for human
Articles Related to human
Dictionary Entries Near human
Cite this Entry
“Human.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/human. Accessed 17 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
human
1 of 2 adjective
hu·man
ˈhyü-mən 
ˈyü-
1
: relating to or characteristic of human beings
especially
: showing qualities typical of human beings
a human failing
2
: consisting of or involving human beings
human spaceflight
3
: having human form or characteristics
the dog's expression was almost human
Medical Definition
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 genus Homo
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