DictionaryAI

human

HYOO-muhn/ˈhjuː.mən/

Noun pluralhumans

6 meanings of human

Practice

  1. 1
    of peopleadjective
    Belonging to people as a kind of living thing, or to their close early relatives, rather than to other animals or machines.

    The museum has a human skull that is thousands of years old.

    Doctors study the human body to keep people healthy.

    UsageSay the human body or human rights.

    Oppositenonhuman

    Note
  2. 2
    person (species)nouncountable
    A person (a man, woman or child), rather than another animal, a machine or an imaginary creature.

    Like a chimpanzee or gorilla, but with a far bigger brain and almost no body hair.

    Like every other human, she needs food, water, and sleep.

    A human has a much bigger brain than other apes of its size.

    UsageSay humans for people as a species. For one, say a person.

    Similarperson, individual, mortal

    Note
  3. 3
    adjective
    Having the qualities or feelings that people normally have.

    Wanting to be loved is a very human feeling.

    It's only human to feel scared sometimes.

    UsageSay only human for normal weakness. Humane means kind.

    Oppositeinhuman, robotic

    Note

Less common meanings

  1. 4
    nouncountable
    Any member of the group of upright apes that includes people and their close extinct relatives.

    Scientists found bones from an early human that lived long ago.

    Neanderthals were humans too, but not the same kind as us.

    Similarhominin, hominid

  2. 5
    calling someonenouncountable
    A way of speaking to a person by calling them by their species, as if nothing else about them mattered.

    "Step aside, human," the robot said coldly.

    "You amuse me, human," the alien hissed.

    Note
  3. 6
    verbcolloquial
    To act like a normal person. People mostly use it as a joke: "I can't human today."

    After months of working alone, I felt like I'd forgotten how to human.

    There are, then, many ways of humaning: these are the ways along which we make ourselves and, collaboratively, one another.
    2013, Biosocial BecomingsHere, humaning means acting or living as a human being.

    Similarhumanize

    Note

Practice

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Origin

From Latin humanus, meaning "of man, human." It came into English through Old and Middle French. It is probably not related to the word "man."

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 2 facts