human being
Americannoun
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any individual of the genus Homo, especially a member of the species Homo sapiens.
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a person, especially as distinguished from other animals or as representing the human species.
living conditions not fit for human beings; a very generous human being.
noun
Etymology
Origin of human being
First recorded in 1855–60
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“You would think that a human being with a shred of dignity would recoil from this thing,” Oswalt said.
From Salon • Jun. 8, 2026
The transformations they are engineering will touch every human being; the decisions about how to engineer them will be made by very few.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 29, 2026
"Just as every human being is unique, we believe that every single robot should also be distinct."
From Barron's • May 29, 2026
She praised Bernard as "an amazing human being" and said he had found it very difficult to see his stepmother in court "stand there and lie and try to discredit him".
From BBC • May 26, 2026
She wanted every child to be “made to feel wanted and respected as a human being, no matter what his race, creed or color.”
From "The Woman All Spies Fear" by Amy Butler Greenfield
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.