humankind

humankind — noun

1. the entire population of human beings living on Earth, thought of as a single co

1.nounB1
Definition

the entire population of human beings living on Earth, thought of as a single community regardless of nationality, culture, or generation

Example

Climate change presents a challenge that the whole of humankind must face together.

collocation: the whole of humankind

The invention of writing allowed humankind to record knowledge across generations.

uncountable + singular verb: allowed

Common collocations
  • the whole of humankind
  • all of humankind
  • the future of humankind
  • the history of humankind
  • for the benefit of humankind
  • gift to humankind
  • achievements of humankind
  • the survival of humankind
Synonyms
  • humanity

    more common in everyday use; can also refer to kindness or compassion (show humanity), whereas humankind strictly refers to the species as a whole

  • mankind

    older term with the same literal meaning, but now often avoided because it is perceived as gender-specific rather than including all people

  • the human race

    slightly more emphatic or literary; stresses the idea of a single species distinct from other animals

  • people

    less formal, broader in meaning; does not necessarily refer to all human beings collectively

Grammar Patterns

humankind + singular verb

the whole of humankind

all of humankind

Usage Note

Uncountable noun — always takes a singular verb (humankind is…, not humankind are…). Frequently used in formal or academic writing about the shared future, history, or condition of all people.

Common Mistakes

Humankind have always dreamed of travelling to the stars.
Humankind has always dreamed of travelling to the stars.
humankind is uncountable and must be paired with a singular verb.
Different humankinds developed their own traditions.
Different human societies developed their own traditions.
humankind has no plural form; use 'societies', 'cultures', or 'civilisations' instead.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Humankind, humanity, mankind, and the human race all refer to all people collectively, but they differ in tone and usage. Humankind is the most gender-neutral and is widely preferred in modern academic and formal writing. Humanity is the most versatile — it can mean both 'all people' and 'the quality of being kind or compassionate', so context is needed to avoid ambiguity. Mankind was the traditional choice for centuries but is increasingly viewed as excluding women; it still appears in fixed expressions and historical texts. The human race is slightly more dramatic or literary and often appears in discussions that emphasise the unity of the species across the planet. For example: 'Humankind has always been curious about the stars.' (neutral, modern). 'The novel explores the darkest sides of humanity.' (could mean cruelty OR people collectively). 'Mankind's greatest inventions' sounds dated to some readers. 'The survival of the human race depends on cooperation.' (suitably dramatic).

humankind ↗humanity ↗mankind ↗the human race

Common collocations

Nouns

  • the whole of humankind
  • all of humankind
  • the future of humankind
  • the history of humankind
  • the survival of humankind

Phrases

  • for the benefit of humankind
  • a gift to humankind
  • the greatest achievement of humankind
  • a threat to humankind

Prepositions

  • of humankind

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchOld EnglishEnglish

Humankind is a compound of 'human' (from Latin hūmānus via Old French humain) and 'kind' (from Old English cynd, meaning 'nature, race, family'). The word was first recorded in the 17th century but remained rare for centuries. It gained wide currency in the late 20th century as a gender-neutral alternative to 'mankind', reflecting a shift toward more inclusive language.