humanity

[hyoo-man-i-tee or, often, yoo-] /hyuˈmæn ɪ ti or, often, yu-/
noun, plural humanities.
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.
the humanities.
  1. the study of classical languages and classical literature.
  2. the Latin and Greek classics as a field of study.
  3. literature, philosophy, art, etc., as distinguished from the natural sciences.
  4. the study of literature, philosophy, art, etc.
Origin
1350-1400; Middle English humanite < Latin hūmānitās. See human, -ity
Related forms
antihumanity, noun, plural antihumanities.
overhumanity, noun
Synonyms
3. sympathy, tenderness, goodwill.
Antonyms
3. inhumanity, unkindness.
Examples from the web for humanities
  • The divergence would seem to be in arts and humanities.
  • It offers a full curriculum covering the arts and humanities as well as the social, physical and life sciences.
  • What goes for ethics also goes for history, literature, the rest of the humanities and the social sciences.
  • It all comes down to humanities definition of scale.
  • Children and adults alike experience regional educational programs in the sciences and humanities.
  • Army would embed humanities types into fighting brigades.
  • Much of the concern about humanities publishing has focused on books.
  • Because science isn't about something being true or not true: that's a humanities graduate parody.
  • These techniques are biased against universities focusing on the humanities and social sciences.
  • The otiose debate among mythmakers belongs in the humanities department, not in the lab.
British Dictionary definitions for humanities

humanity

/hjuːˈmænɪtɪ/
noun (pl) -ties
1.
the human race
2.
the quality of being human
3.
kindness or mercy
4.
(pl) the humanities, the study of literature, philosophy, and the arts
5.
the study of Ancient Greek and Roman language, literature, etc
Word Origin and History for humanities

1702; plural of humanity, which was used in English from late 15c. in a sense "class of studies concerned with human culture" (opposed variously at different times to divinity or sciences). Latin literae humaniores, they were those branches of literature (ancient classics, rhetoric, poetry) which tended to humanize or refine.

humanity

n.

late 14c., "kindness, graciousness," from Old French humanité, umanité "human nature; humankind, life on earth; pity," from Latin humanitatem (nominative humanitas) "human nature; philanthropy, kindness; good breeding, refinement; the human race, mankind," from humanus (see human). Sense of "human nature, human form" is c.1400; that of "human race" first recorded mid-15c.

humanities in Culture

humanities definition


One of the main branches of learning. A scholar of the humanities studies history, literature, the fine arts, and philosophy.