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
C. G. Bowers2
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
Maurice BowraExamples 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
As long as humanity is still valuable to the process of adaptation, Clarke will have work.
—Literary Hub, 19 May 2026
What’s more, humanity’s wireless communication isn’t limited to Earth.
—Margherita Bassi, Interesting Engineering, 19 May 2026
Eventually the interrogation devolved into a monologue about the Revolution and its historical enemy the United States, Fidel and Raúl, the great humanity of the Ministry of the Interior, never mind its repressive goals.
—Abraham Jiménez Enoa, The Dial, 19 May 2026
The insistence that your full humanity deserves to exist in the public record.
—Monica Lewinsky, Rolling Stone, 19 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for humanity
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Literary Hub, 19 May 2026
What’s more, humanity’s wireless communication isn’t limited to Earth.
—Margherita Bassi, Interesting Engineering, 19 May 2026
Eventually the interrogation devolved into a monologue about the Revolution and its historical enemy the United States, Fidel and Raúl, the great humanity of the Ministry of the Interior, never mind its repressive goals.
—Abraham Jiménez Enoa, The Dial, 19 May 2026
The insistence that your full humanity deserves to exist in the public record.
—Monica Lewinsky, Rolling Stone, 19 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for humanity
Cite this Entry
“Humanity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/humanity. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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
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