Definition and Pronunciation
Human refers to a member of the species Homo sapiens, distinguished by advanced intelligence, language, reasoning, emotions, self-awareness, and the ability to form complex societies. The word may be used as both a noun (a human) and an adjective (human body, human rights).
Pronunciation: HYOO-muhn
Easy Explanation
A human is a person. Humans are mammals who grow, learn, communicate, form relationships, and live in communities around the world. Every human has a unique combination of physical characteristics, personality, experiences, and identity.
Humans experience different stages of life, including infancy, childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and old age. They also differ in sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, culture, language, and beliefs.
Grammatical Formation
- Part of speech: Noun and adjective
- Plural form (noun): Humans
- Related noun: Humanity
- Related adjective: Human
- Scientific name:Homo sapiens
- Related terms: Human being, person, mankind (traditional; often avoided in inclusive writing)
Word Comparisons
Human vs. Human Being
These terms have the same meaning. Human is shorter and more commonly used, while human being is slightly more formal or emphatic.
Human vs. Person
A person is an individual human. Human may refer either to an individual or to the species as a whole.
Human vs. Animal
Humans are biologically animals and belong to the animal kingdom. However, the word animal is often used in everyday conversation to refer to non-human animals.
Human vs. Humanity
Human refers to an individual member of the species, while humanity refers to all humans collectively or to the quality of being humane.
Connotations
The word human generally has neutral or positive connotations. It is associated with life, identity, intelligence, relationships, emotions, society, and shared human experiences.
The term is widely used in science, medicine, education, law, philosophy, and everyday language.
Meaning with Prepositions
Human as
Example: Every human deserves dignity and respect.
Human in
Example: Human development continues throughout life.
Human of
Example: Humans are members of the species Homo sapiens.
Human throughout
Example: Human societies have evolved throughout history.
Real-Life Examples
Humans live in every region of the world and create diverse cultures, languages, and traditions. Scientists study human biology, psychologists study human behavior, and healthcare professionals work to improve human health and well-being.
Synonyms
- Human being
- Person (individual context)
- Individual
- Member of the human species
- Homo sapiens(scientific term)
Antonyms
- Non-human
- Animal (when contrasted in everyday language)
- Machine (context-dependent)
- Artificial being (context-dependent)
Related Terms
- Human being
- Humanity
- Person
- Homo sapiens
- Body
- Brain
- Anatomy
- Reproduction
- Sexuality
- Gender
- Sex
- Identity
- Society
- Culture
- Human rights
Common Collocations
- Human body
- Human being
- Human life
- Human development
- Human rights
- Human health
- Human sexuality
- Human reproduction
- Human anatomy
- Human behavior
- Human identity
- Human society
Idiomatic and Figurative Usage
The word human appears in many common expressions.
Examples:
- Only human – naturally capable of making mistakes.
- Human nature – the typical characteristics or behaviors of people.
- To be human – to possess human qualities such as compassion, emotion, and imperfection.
These expressions emphasize shared human experiences rather than biological characteristics.
Sample Sentences
- Every human has unique abilities and experiences.
- Humans belong to the species Homo sapiens.
- Human development continues throughout life.
- Scientists continue to study the human body and brain.
- Every human deserves dignity and respect.
- Human relationships contribute to emotional well-being.
- The human body changes from infancy to adulthood.
- Human diversity enriches societies around the world.
Connection to Sexuality
Human sexuality is a natural aspect of human life. It includes biological sex, reproduction, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, relationships, attraction, intimacy, and sexual health. Human sexuality develops throughout life and is influenced by biological, psychological, social, and cultural factors.
Understanding humans and their diversity helps promote respectful discussions about anatomy, identity, relationships, consent, reproductive health, and sexual well-being.
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