nonhuman

adjective

non·​hu·​man ˌnän-ˈhyü-mən 

-ˈyü-

: not human: such as

a

: being other than a human being

a nonhuman primate/animal

b

: not belonging to, appropriate to, or produced by human beings

nonhuman noises

nonhuman cells

nonhuman noun

Discarding the doctrine of human dignity can mean lowering the moral status of humans or raising the moral status of nonhumans, and Mr. Rachels's emphasis is ultimately on the latter.

—Robert Wright

Examples of nonhuman in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Research into animal emotions and experience has been on the rise since the late 20th century, and scientists are beginning to use these findings to help understand an age-old question: Do nonhuman animals have consciousness? —Jacek Krywko, Scientific American, 11 Mar. 2025

It is not understood what role sloths and nonhuman primates play in the transmission cycle, says Navarro. —Geraldine Castro, WIRED, 20 Dec. 2024

Additionally, no fossil records indicate that any nonhuman hominids ever lived in North America. —Matt Robison, Newsweek, 19 Feb. 2025

The Alpha Genesis test facility specializes in nonhuman primate research for biomedical research. —Rebekah Riess, CNN, 25 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1839, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for nonhuman

• acumen
• albumen
• albumin
• bitumen
• cerumen
• curcumin
• illumine
• inhuman
• subhuman
• crewman
• crewmen
• cumin