Words / C1

hyoo-MAN-uh-tee/hjuːˈmænəti/

Humanity is people as a whole, or the quality of being kind and humane: a crime against humanity, show humanity. Humankind is a close cousin of the “people” sense; kindness is everyday for the virtue. Humanities are the academic subjects (history, literature). Do not write humanity where you mean one clinic’s patients.

Meaning

Human beings as a whole; also kindness and the quality of being humane.

Examples

• “The archive is about one clinic, not a lecture on humanity.”
• “The report is about one ward’s logs, not a sermon on humanity.”
• “The humanities (plural) are subjects; humanity (singular) is the species or the kindness.”

Good to know

The human species; also kindness. Academic plural: the humanities. Everyday virtue: kindness. Not a substitute for your actual sample.

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