humane

adjective

hu·​mane hyü-ˈmān How to pronounce humane (audio)
yü-
Synonyms of humanenext
1
: marked by compassion, sympathy, or consideration for humans or animals
humane prison guards
a more humane way of treating farm animals
2
: characterized by or tending to broad humanistic culture : humanistic
humane studies
humanely adverb
humaneness noun

Examples of humane in a Sentence

It's not humane to treat animals that way. Conditions in the prison are more humane now.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
For landlords, environments that feel adaptive and humane will outperform spaces that remain static and indifferent. Nathanael Bondu, Rolling Stone, 19 Feb. 2026 Catching stone crabs is fairly easy, humane, and sustainable. Kelsey Glennon, Southern Living, 18 Feb. 2026 Four of the sheep, which were initially described as goats by authorities, were too severely injured to recover, the humane society said. ABC News, 18 Feb. 2026 But the county’s unofficial network of cat feeders say their efforts are key to providing a humane existence for the thousands of strays trying to survive without homes. Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 15 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for humane

Word History

Etymology

Middle English humain

First Known Use

1552, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of humane was in 1552

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Humane.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/humane. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.

Kids Definition

humane

adjective
hu·​mane hyü-ˈmān How to pronounce humane (audio)
yü-
: marked by sympathy or consideration for others
humanely adverb
humaneness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on humane

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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