human

human — adjective

1. relating to people and the things they do, especially when compared or contraste

1.adjectiveA1
Definition

relating to people and the things they do, especially when compared or contrasted with animals, machines, or nature

Example

The rescue team searched the rubble but found no human remains.

collocation: human remains

Apinya's research focuses on human behaviour in crowded public spaces.

collocation: human behaviour

Common collocations
  • human rights
  • human nature
  • human body
  • human error
  • human society
  • human activity
Synonyms
  • mortal

    more literary and focuses on the fact that people eventually die

  • earthly

    suggests this world rather than a spiritual realm, less common in everyday speech

Antonyms
  • animal

    emphasizes the biological contrast between people and other living creatures

  • inhuman

    describes behaviour or conditions that seem not to belong to ordinary people

  • supernatural

    describes forces or beings beyond the physical human world

Grammar Patterns

human + noun (human body / human rights)

be + human

Usage Note

This is the most common sense of the adjective. Common fixed collocations include 'human rights', 'human nature', 'human error', 'the human body', and 'the human race'.

Common Mistakes

He is a very human person' (when you mean 'kind' or 'friendly').
He is a very humane person.
'human' means 'of people'; 'humane' means 'kind and compassionate.'

2. describing the natural feelings, faults, and emotional reactions that most peopl

2.adjectiveB1
Definition

describing the natural feelings, faults, and emotional reactions that most people share, making someone's actions feel understandable rather than blameworthy

Example

It is only human to feel nervous before an important job interview.

fixed expression: it is only human to + infinitive

The judge showed her human side when she reduced the fine for the struggling mother.

collocation: human side

Common collocations
  • human side
  • human weakness
  • human reaction
  • human feelings
  • human emotions
Synonyms
  • humane

    emphasizes kindness and compassion toward others rather than inner qualities or weaknesses

  • imperfect

    focuses on flaws and limitations without the sympathetic tone of 'human'

  • understandable

    describes reactions or mistakes that are easy to sympathize with, but does not carry the sense 'of people as a species'

Antonyms
  • inhuman

    describes cruelty or coldness that seems to lack ordinary human feelings

  • robotic

    suggests behaviour that is mechanical and lacks natural emotion

  • superhuman

    describes abilities or endurance beyond what ordinary people can achieve

Grammar Patterns

be + human

it is (only) human to + infinitive

human + noun (human side / human weakness)

Usage Note

Frequently used in the fixed phrase 'it is only human to…' and in evaluative contexts where someone's mistake or reaction is described as understandable rather than blameworthy. Distinguish from sense 1 (HUMAN BEINGS), which is purely descriptive; this sense always carries a sympathetic or forgiving tone.

Common Mistakes

It is human to make mistakes — that is what makes us human animals.' (sounds odd).
It is human to make mistakes
that is part of being human.' — 'human animal' mixes the biological and the emotional registers awkwardly.

3. belonging to the biological group of species that includes modern people togethe

3.adjectiveB2
Definition

belonging to the biological group of species that includes modern people together with extinct relatives such as Neanderthals

Example

Archaeologists in Kenya discovered human fossils that are over 50,000 years old.

scientific register: human fossils

The museum exhibit traces how early human species spread from Africa to Asia.

collocation: early human species

Common collocations
  • human fossils
  • human species
  • human remains
  • human evolution
  • human ancestors
Synonyms
  • hominid

    a technical term for the biological family that includes humans and great apes, used only in scientific writing

  • hominin

    a narrower technical term for humans and their direct ancestors after the split from chimpanzees

Grammar Patterns

human + noun (human fossils / human species)

early / modern / ancient + human + noun

Usage Note

Restricted to scientific or archaeological contexts. This sense is always attributive (before a noun) and typically appears with pre-modifiers such as 'early', 'ancient', or 'modern'. Not used in everyday conversation.

Idioms

the human face of…

idiom

A person who represents a topic in a way that makes it understandable and relatable to ordinary people.

Maya became the human face of the climate change movement.

Is there a human face of this new technology policy?

the milk of human kindness

idiom

The natural kindness and sympathy that people are believed to have.

Brian showed the milk of human kindness by helping the lost child.

Her speech was full of the milk of human kindness.

with a human face

idiom

Designed or presented in a way that considers the needs and feelings of ordinary people.

The new hospital is healthcare with a human face.

They want capitalism with a human face.

human — noun

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All these words refer to members of the human species, but they differ in register and scope. 'Human' as a noun is more formal or scientific than 'person'; it is common in general statements about the species ('Humans are social animals'). 'Person' is the everyday word for a single individual and is always neutral and natural ('She is a kind person'). 'Human being' is slightly more emphatic and often used when contrasting people with animals or machines ('Every human being deserves respect'). 'Individual' stresses separateness or uniqueness ('Each individual learns differently'), while 'people' is the standard plural for 'person' in everyday language. In most daily conversation, 'person' / 'people' is the safest choice; 'human' as a noun sounds more detached or philosophical.

human ↗person ↗human beingindividual ↗people ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

  • truly human
  • purely human
  • fully human

Phrases

  • human being
  • the human race
  • the human condition

Prepositions

  • human in (nature)

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

The word 'human' comes from the Latin adjective 'humanus', which is related to 'homo' meaning 'person' or 'man'. It entered English through Old French 'humain' during the Middle Ages and has been used in its modern form since the 15th century.