human

comparative more human · superlative most human · alternative obsolete humane

1. not comparableOf or belonging to the species Homo sapiens or its closest relatives.

   [N]o attempt is made to call in God to their reſcue, as if he vvere an idle unconcern'd ſpectator of humane affairs, or ſo inconſiderable an ally, as not to be vvorth the care of engaging him on their ſide.

   1660, [Richard Allestree], “Sect[ion] V. Of the Second Advantage, Wealth.”, in The Gentlemans Calling, London: […] T[imothy] Garthwait […], →OCLC, page 83

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   Some powers diuine, or els infernall, mixt / Their angry ſeedes at his conception: / For he was neuer ſprong of humaine race, / Since with the ſpirit of his fearefull pride, / He dares so doubtleſly reſolue of rule.

   c. 1587–1588 (date written), [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. […] The First Part […], 2nd edition, part 1, London: […] [R. Robinson for] Richard Iones, […], published 1592, →OCLC; reprinted as Tamburlaine the Great (A Scolar Press Facsimile), Menston, Yorkshire; London: Scolar Press, 1973, →ISBN, Act II, scene vi

   Like most human activities, ballooning has sponsored heroes and hucksters and a good deal in between. For every dedicated scientist patiently recording atmospheric pressure and wind speed while shivering at high altitudes, there is a carnival barker with a bevy of pretty girls willing to dangle from a basket or parachute down to earth.

   2013 June 7, David Simpson, “Fantasy of navigation”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 188, number 26, archived from the original on 07 May 2021, page 36

2. comparableHaving the nature or attributes of a human being.

   To err is human; to forgive, divine.

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   She's only human, so give her a break!

   She was like a Beardsley Salome, he had said. And indeed she had the narrow eyes and the high cheekbone of that creature, and as nearly the sinuosity as is compatible with human symmetry.

   1921, Ben Travers, chapter 1, in A Cuckoo in the Nest, Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, Page & Company, published 1925, →OCLC

   The story struck the depressingly familiar note with which true stories ring in the tried ears of experienced policemen. No one queried it. It was in the classic pattern of human weakness, mean and embarrassing and sad.

   1963, Margery Allingham, “Eye Witness”, in The China Governess: A Mystery, London: Chatto & Windus, →OCLC, page 249

   2011 August 17, Holman W. Jenkins, Jr., The Many Wars of Google: Handset makers will learn to live with their new ‘frenemy’, Business World, Wall Street Journal, Google wouldn't be human if it didn't want some of this loot, which buying Motorola would enable it to grab.

3. Compassionate.

   When his loosely-built, straggling, lean, clerical figure appeared, with that gaunt, worn face illuminated by its human grin and dignified by its earnest eyes, through the doorway, they both felt as if an old friend had entered. His own greeting was equally cordial.

   1926, Arthur Conan Doyle, The Land of Mist

   Synonyms: humane

plural humans · humorous nonstandard plural humen · alternative obsolete humane

1. strictlybiologyA highly intelligent ape with fine and short body hair; the most abundant species of primate, with members found on every continent (Homo sapiens).

   Humans share common ancestors with other apes.

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   Bats host many high-profile viruses that can infect humans, including severe acute respiratory syndrome and Ebola.

   2013 May-June, Katie L. Burke, “In the News”, in American Scientist, volume 101, number 3, page 193

   If I ever have to choose between a future where killer robots hunt humans or a future where bacon supplies have run out ... Let's just say you better start running.

   2013 April 18, Rock Paper Cynic (webcomic)

   They were for start-ups promising to reinvent medicine, disrupt education and transform the future of business. “Stop Hiring Humans,” one billboard read.

   2026 June 14, Eli Saslow, Erin Schaff, “The World’s Leading Deepfake Expert No Longer Trusts His Own Eyes”, in The New York Times, →ISSN

   Synonyms: human being, man, woman, person

   1. strictlybiologyA human as contrasted from superficially similar but typically more powerful humanoid creatures; a member of the human race.

      Greetings. I am Blor-Utar from Zimtok-5. I have come to subjugate the human race. Do not resist. Why humans? Because, in addition to their value as slave labor, they are also delicious and nutritious!

      1994 March 29, Bill Watterson, Calvin & Hobbes

      Synonyms: human being, man, woman, person

   2. strictlybiologyA term of address for any human, often implying the listener's species is their only noteworthy trait.

      Greetings, human! You have stumbled into the dimension of the Snow People.[…]Flesh plows clear the streets to make them safe to drive.[…]Does this shock you, human? Do the ways of our world open your eyes to the truths of your own?

      2011 December 29, Alex Culang, Raynato Castro, Buttersafe (webcomic)

      Synonyms: human being, man, woman, person

2. broadlyAny hominid of the genus Homo.

present singular third person humans · participle present humaning · participle present rare humanning · participle past humaned · past humaned · participle past rare humanned · past rare humanned · alternative obsolete humane

1. rareTo behave as or become, or to cause to behave as or become, a human.

   There are, then, many ways of humaning: these are the ways along which we make ourselves and, collaboratively, one another.

   2013, Biosocial Becomings, →ISBN, page 19

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   […] he sought to charm a single pair of ears, and those more hairy than critical. Later, as the race went on humaning, there grew complexity of sentiment and varying emotional needs, […]

   1911, Ambrose Bierce, “Music”, in The collected works of Ambrose Bierce, volume 9, page 362

   Synonyms: humanize

plural Humans

1. A surname.
2. humorousThe language supposedly spoken by humans

   “I haven't been able to speak Human very long,” Dipper said.

   2010, Piers Anthony, Knot Gneiss: An Astonishing, Wildly Witty Xanth Adventure, Macmillan, →ISBN, page 42

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   Should you identify your language (culture) with human being (nature), you would tend to think that all people should speak Human (English), just as you do. And if they do not, they are either subhuman or nonhuman. This is ethnocentrism again.

   2001, Bruce J. Malina, The New Testament World: Insights from Cultural Anthropology, Westminster John Knox Press, →ISBN, page 13

   Shakespeare could understand Human, the language used by people, as well as Dog, the telepathic speech with which canines communicated with each other.

   2005, Jean Little, Forward, Shakespeare!, Orca Book Publishers, →ISBN, page 2

   Lara's biggest frustration was that she could only speak one language – her native tongue of Dog. She would have loved to learn to speak Human but this was beyond the spy-training programme.

   2006, Andrew Cope, Spy Dog: Captured!, Penguin UK, →ISBN, page 12

   That's what their language is called. Monibar. It's not like we speak Human.

   2013, Scott Haworth, The Unlikely Defenders - Volume 1, page 108

3. fantasyAlternative letter-case form of human used in works that capitalize the names of all sentient species

   In some instances, Humans have also been called "Earth creatures" and "Earthlings" and a Human male called "Earthman."

   2025, “Human”, in Memory Beta, non-canon Star Trek Wiki

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   Raise an army and seek out the mightiest heroes from the four races of Origin Star – The Humans, Izans, Aokus, Theias, and unite them all to annihilate the Invaders of your home planet.

   2025, “Nexus War: Civilization”, in Google Play

   These bipedal mammalians have developed a society that encourages and even thrives on individual freedoms and cultural differences - as a result, Humans tend to integrate well with alien populations.

   2025, “Preset empires”, in Stellaris Wiki