humanity

noun

hyoo-MAN-i-tee/hjuˈmænɪti/

Pluralhumanities (some meanings)

4 meanings of humanity

1
noununcountable
The human race as a whole; all people considered together as a single group.
Advances in medicine have benefited all of humanity.
The mission was described as a giant leap for humanity.
Similarhumankind, mankind, man
2
noununcountable
The quality of being kind, compassionate, and sympathetic toward others.
The nurse treated every patient with warmth and humanity.
His humanity showed in the way he forgave even his rivals.
Similarhumaneness
Oppositeinhumanity, cruelty, brutality, callousness
3
noununcountable
The condition or nature shared by all people simply by being human.
Great literature explores the joys and struggles of our common humanity.
The philosopher wrote about humanity and our endless search for meaning.
Similarhumanness
4
nouncountable
Any one of the academic subjects that make up the humanities, such as history, literature, or philosophy.
History is usually counted as a humanity rather than a natural science.
Funding for the humanities has declined at many universities.
Oppositescience

Practice

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Origin

Inherited from Middle English humanyte (also humanite, humanitye), analyzable as 'human' or 'humane' plus the suffix '-ity'. It partly displaced 'mankind', from Old English mancynn, literally 'human race'.