humanity

UK: /hjuːˈmænɪti/

US: /hjuˈmænɪti/

US: (hyo̅o̅ man′i tē or, often, yo̅o̅-)

Inflections of 'humanity' (n): npl: humanities

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

hu•man•i•ty /hyuˈmænɪti/   n., pl. -ties. 

1. [uncountable] all human beings thought of as a group;
   the human race.
2. the quality or condition of being human;
   human nature:
   [uncountable] We share a common humanity.
3. the quality of being humane;
   goodwill;
   benevolence:
   [uncountable] Your humanity toward us in our time of suffering will never be forgotten.
4. Education the humanities, [plural] literature, languages, philosophy, art, etc., as distinguished from the sciences.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

hu•man•i•ty  (hyo̅o̅ man′i tē or, often, yo̅o̅-), n., pl. -ties. 

1. all human beings collectively;
   the human race;
   humankind.
2. the quality or condition of being human;
   human nature.
3. the quality of being humane;
   kindness;
   benevolence.
4. Education the humanities:
   • the study of classical languages and classical literature.
   • the Latin and Greek classics as a field of study.
   • literature, philosophy, art, etc., as distinguished from the natural sciences.
   • Education the study of literature, philosophy, art, etc.

• Latin hūmānitās. See human, -ity
• Middle English humanite 1350–1400

Synonyms

• 3. sympathy, tenderness, goodwill.

Antonyms

• 3. inhumanity, unkindness.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

humanity / hjuːˈmænɪtɪ/ noun ( -ties)

1. the human race
2. the quality of being human
3. kindness or mercy
4. the humanities ⇒ (plural) the study of literature, philosophy, and the arts