Meaning 1
All human beings considered together.
Reach for it when speaking about people as a shared whole across borders and generations
The archive preserves a small part of humanity's record of adaptation.
Meaning 2
Compassionate understanding and respect for another person's dignity.
Reach for it when praising humane character shown through concrete treatment
The judge balanced accountability with humanity toward every family involved.
| Meaning 1 | Meaning 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| everyday | ||
| warm |
| |
| professional | ||
| formal |
| |
| literary |
everyday
humankind
Fits when an inclusive collective noun for all people is needed
Careful Humankind cannot name the compassionate quality of one action.
everyday
people
Fits when plain language matters more than a grand collective frame
Careful People usually refers to a bounded group unless context clearly expands it.
professional
human civilization
Fits when institutions and accumulated culture are the topic
Careful Civilization excludes individuals and can encode contested judgments about societies.
formal
the human race
Fits when the species as a biological or historical whole is intended
Careful The phrase can sound dated and invites a false idea of separate human races.
warm
Fits when active concern for suffering is the central virtue
Careful Compassion focuses on suffering, while humanity also includes dignity and fellow feeling.
formal
Fits when a settled disposition to do good is meant
Careful Benevolence can be distant or paternalistic rather than mutually human.
literary
Fits when recognition of shared experience produces sympathy
Careful Fellow feeling may remain emotional without humane action.
future of humanity
The treaty treats clean water as part of the future of humanity.
shared humanity
Their shared humanity mattered more than the uniforms between them.
act of humanity
Offering the prisoners dry clothes was a simple act of humanity.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Dvortygirl, American accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 Updated
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