humanitarian
Syllables: hu·man·it·a·ri·an/hjʊˌmæ.nɪˈtɛː.ɹɪ.ən//hjuˌmæ.nəˈtɛ.ɹi.ən/
humanitarian adjective: relating to people's welfare.
Adjective
humanitarian (comparative more humanitarian, superlative most humanitarian)
- Relating to people's welfare.
- So far as the followers of Jesus have woven the humanitarian teachings of their master into the living fibre of their own daily lives, the Christian religion has been a blessing and a civilizer.1871 July, James G. Clark, Dogmatic and Real Religion. […], [Syracuse, N.Y.]: Syracuse Radical Club, →OCLC, page 3
- But though personified, the function of Wisdom is mainly humanitarian: her delights are with the sons of men (Prov[erbs] viii. 31, 32).1909, J[ohn] A[llen] F[itzgerald] Gregg, “Introduction”, in A[lexander] F[rancis] Kirkpatrick, editor, The Wisdom of Solomon: […] (The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges), Cambridge...
- Being compassionate or humane.
- [T]his most painful condition [a fractured arm], [...] was brought about through the humanitarian act of saving, and restoring to life, the angelic form of a creature whose very existence was a gigantic balm of Gilead to the lacerated body of our hero, [...]1872, S[imon] M[ohler] Landis, “Deacon Stew Raves at Lucinda’s Love for Victor”, in […] The Social War of the Year 1900; or, The Conspirators and Lovers!, Philadelphia, Pa.: Landis Publishing...
- Dr. John Fothergill, eighteenth century Quaker physician, was eminent in the practice of medicine, active in the religious Society of Friends, and prominent in the humanitarian and charitable philanthropies of his time.1980 September 13–14, K. Garth Huston, “Bibliographical Note”, in John Fothergill, Observations on the Recovery of a Man Dead in Appearance by Distending the Lungs with Air, Van Nuys, Calif.: K....
- Of or pertaining to the belief that Jesus Christ is fully human and not divine.
- I might further object that ſome Humanitarians would tell you that the doctrine of the atonement is perfectly compatible with the ſimple humanity of Chriſt, ſo that to every perſon of the Humanitarian perſuaſion the former tenet does not appear "mockery and deluſion."[1792], Benjamin Hobhouse, “Letter V”, in A Reply to the Rev. F[rancis] Randolph’s Letter to the Rev. Dr. [Joseph] Priestley; or, An Examination of the Rev. F. Randolph’s “Scriptural Revision of...
- [Y]ou muſt have recourſe to pretty ſtrong figure to reconcile that belief to humanitarian tenets, from this beautiful and ſublime chapter.1793, F[rancis] Randolph, Scriptural Revision of Socinian Arguments Vindicated, against the Reply of Benjamin Hobhouse, Esq., Bath, Somerset: […] R. Cruttwell, for T[homas] Cadell, […], →OCLC, pages...
- Synonym of humanist (“relating to humanism”).
- By the study of natural laws, Humanitarian philosophers know how to distinguish those thoughts, desires and actions which are rewarded, from those that are corrected, and Humanitarian philosophers are thus, next to the God of Nature, the safest guides and greatest benefactors of mankind; for, not a...1876, Joachim Kaspary, Natural Laws; or The Infallible Criterion, London: J. A. Brook & Co., […], →OCLC, pages 3–4
- Synonyms:
- humanist
Noun
humanitarian (plural humanitarians)
- A person concerned with people's welfare; a do-gooder or philanthropist.
- But if we doubt the humanity of the social theories of [Bartolomé de] Las Casas, and the humanitarians of the sixteenth century, what verdict may not posterity accord to those of [William] Wilberforce and the humanitarians of the nineteenth century, when it contemplates the results of their social...1856, J[ohn] S. Thrasher, “Preliminary Essay”, in Alexander Humboldt [i.e., Alexander von Humboldt], translated by J. S. Thrasher, The Island of Cuba, […], New York, N.Y.: Derby & Jackson, […]...
- Mr. [Gilbert] Haven has never forgotten this sacred duty. While our humanitarians have inquired into the natural rights of man, the spirit of modern civilization and the Constitution, he, without despising such inquiries, has sought wisdom and direction at the Cross.1870 June, [George Prentice], “Haven’s National Sermons”, in I[saac] W[illiam] Wiley, editor, The Ladies’ Repository: A Monthly Periodical, Devoted to Literature and Religion, volume VI (New Series...
- One who believes that Jesus Christ is fully human and not divine.
- But it will be demanded, how happened it that Irenæus, the pupil of that Polycarp who is repreſented to have been a Humanitarian, ſhould become a zealous advocate for the Deity of Chriſt?[1792], Benjamin Hobhouse, “Letter IV”, in A Reply to the Rev. F[rancis] Randolph’s Letter to the Rev. Dr. [Joseph] Priestley; or, An Examination of the Rev. F. Randolph’s “Scriptural Revision of...
- [S]hould any one tell a Humanitarian, that I worſhipped and adored my Saviour, might he not with equal juſtice ſuppoſe me to avow only the ſame ſort of reverence I thought due a parent, or the adoration one profeſſed to pay any beloved object.1793, F[rancis] Randolph, Scriptural Revision of Socinian Arguments Vindicated, against the Reply of Benjamin Hobhouse, Esq., Bath, Somerset: […] R. Cruttwell, for T[homas] Cadell, […], →OCLC, page 34
- Synonym of humanist (“a person who believes in the philosophy of humanism”).
- Therefore, Humanitarians alone devote their present lives to create heavens within themselves and others, and a real paradise upon earth, because they do not waste their time with Pagan delusions, Sceptical doubts, and Atheistical selfishness, but live happily in the present by preparing for...1876, Joachim Kaspary, Natural Laws; or The Infallible Criterion, London: J. A. Brook & Co., […], →OCLC, page 136
- Synonyms:
- humanist
humanitarian meaning in Hindi, Tamil, Urdu and Bengali
humanitarian in Hindi
- concerned with people's welfare
- मानवीय mānvīya
- person with humanitarian concerns
- मानवीय mānvīya
humanitarian in Tamil
- நேயமிக்கோன், மாந்த நலன்சார்ந்த, மாந்த நேய மிக்கோன்
humanitarian in Urdu
- انسان دوست, انسانیت پسند
humanitarian in Bengali
- পরহিতব্রতী, সদাশয়, বদান্য
More languagesFewer languages
- humanitarian in Malayalam
- മനുഷ്യസ്നേഹി, ക്രിസ്തുമാനുഷത്വൈകവാദി, മനുഷ്യത്വമതം
- humanitarian in Kannada
- ಮಾನವತಾವಾದಿ, ದಯಾಳು, ಮಾನವೀಯ, ಮಾನವ ಹಿತಕಾರಿ
- humanitarian in Odia
- ମାନବହିତୈଷୀ
- humanitarian in Tagalog
- mapagkawanggawa
Examples of humanitarian in a sentence
- There are three divisions into which the purposes of the hospital may be classed: Humanitarian, educational and scientific.1914 January 16, William Henry Welch, “Present Position of Medical Education, Its Development and Great Needs for the Future”, in Walter C....
- Musk said he checked with Trump “a few times” and Trump confirmed he wants to shut down the agency, which dispenses billions in humanitarian aid and development funding annually.2025 February 2, Jennifer Hansler and Alex Marquardt, “Senior USAID security officials put on leave after attempting to refuse Musk’s DOGE...
- Their thoughts, wished out into form, make a fit place for the weaker multitude to live in and they are always the humanitarians, giving their life for the world.1929, Julia Seton, “Supra-consciousness: Sight—Hearing—Taste—Touch—Smell”, in The Short Cut—Regeneration through Fasting, 2nd edition...
- And she took the time to lock the door behind her, even though she was rushing upstairs because she's such a humanitarian?2000 July 13, Lee Child [pseudonym; James Dover Grant], chapter 31, in Running Blind (A Jack Reacher Novel), New York, N.Y.: Jove Books...
Synonyms of humanitarian
3 more synonymsFewer synonyms
Antonyms
Forms of humanitarian
| Adjective | |
|---|---|
| comparative | more humanitarian |
| superlative | most humanitarian |
| Noun | |
| plural | humanitarians |
Origin of humanitarian
From humanity + -arian (suffix indicating an advocate of or believer in something), possibly modelled after Unitarian (“Christian who does not believe in the doctrine of the Trinity; pertaining to Unitarianism”) (see noun sense 2 and verb sense 2).
Words formed from humanitarian
Phrases with humanitarian
Words that rhyme with humanitarian
- Darien
- barbarian
- Aryan
- libertarian
- Arian
- documentarian
- sabbatarian
- sectarian
- unitarian
- vegetarian
- -arian
- agrarian
48 more rhymesFewer rhymes
- Bulgarian
- caesarian
- catenarian
- librarian
- lunarian
- Marian
- planetarian
- Ripuarian
- Solarian
- trinitarian
- alphabetarian
- antiauthoritarian
- aquarian
- Bolivarian
- communitarian
- contrarian
- corpuscularian
- denarian
- flexitarian
- futilitarian
- infirmarian
- Kaffrarian
- necessitarian
- nonsectarian
- paraovarian
- parian
- pollotarian
- proprietarian
- quinarian
- sacramentarian
- sanitarian
- semivegetarian
- Tartarean
- Tartarian
- Tocharian
- tricenarian
- valetudinarian
- vestiarian
- acarian
- actiniarian
- actuarian
- aerarian
- alcyonarian
- altitudinarian
- antelapsarian
- antiacarian
- antiegalitarian
- antilapsarian
Questions about humanitarian
- What does humanitarian mean?
- Humanitarian means relating to people's welfare.
- What is humanitarian in Hindi?
- Humanitarian in Hindi is मानवीय (mānvīya). See Humanitarian meaning in Hindi.
- How do you use humanitarian in a sentence?
- There are three divisions into which the purposes of the hospital may be classed: Humanitarian, educational and scientific.
- What part of speech is humanitarian?
- Humanitarian can be an adjective or a noun.
- How do you pronounce humanitarian?
- Humanitarian is pronounced /hjʊˌmæ.nɪˈtɛː.ɹɪ.ən/ (UK).
Words near humanitarian in the dictionary
Source and license
Adapted from Wiktionary: humanitarian (page history and authors); humanitarian (Tamil Wiktionary) (page history and authors); humanitarian (Urdu Wiktionary) (page history and authors); humanitarian (Bengali Wiktionary) (page history and authors); humanitarian (Malayalam Wiktionary) (page history and authors); humanitarian (Kannada Wiktionary) (page history and authors); humanitarian (Odia, IndicTrans2 machine translation) (model and license). Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws reformatted the entry and added links. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.
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Cite this entry: “humanitarian.” Word.ws, https://word.ws/humanitarian. Based on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.