noun / adjective
human
HYOO-muhn/hjˈumʌn/
A person, or relating to people and their characteristic qualities.
The three humans differ in age but share recognizable upright bodies.
Etymology
Latin humanus described what belongs to human beings. English first used human as an adjective, then made it a noun naming an individual human being.
In context
The wolf gained food and safety. The human gained an alert companion, a hunting partner, and eventually an animal capable of understanding human signals.
More examples
- Human hands can perform remarkably delicate movements.
- The robot cannot fully understand human emotions.
- Every human deserves to be treated with dignity.
Forms
human · humans
Similar words
- person
- Usually refers to an individual rather than the species.
- individual
- Individual can refer to a person without emphasizing the human species.