human
/ˈhjuː.mən/ IELTSAcademic
adjective
Relating to people, not animals, machines, or gods. It can also mean kind, weak, or having normal feelings and flaws.
- Humans need sleep and food.
- That error was only human.
- She has a very human response.
noun
A person. It is a general word for any member of the human species.
- Every human needs respect.
- The room was full of humans.
- No human is perfect.
Adinary Nuance
Use human when you mean something connected to people, or when you want to stress people’s natural limits and feelings. It is broader than person, which usually means one individual. It is also different from humane, which means kind and compassionate.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- con người
- Spanish
- humano
- Chinese
- 人类
- Japanese
- 人間
- Korean
- 인간
Etymology
From Latin humanus, meaning 'of man' or 'kind'. It entered English through Old French and has been used since Middle English.
Common phrases
human beinghuman naturehuman rightshuman error
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is 'human' formal or informal?
- It is neutral and common in both speaking and writing.
- What is the difference between 'human' and 'humane'?
- 'Human' means related to people. 'Humane' means kind and caring.
- Can I say 'humans' in academic writing?
- Yes. It is common in academic and scientific writing.
- Is 'human' the same as 'person'?
- Not exactly. 'Human' can be broader and more general than 'person'.