human nature
Americannoun
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the psychological and social qualities that characterize humankind, especially in contrast with other living things.
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Sociology. the character of human conduct, generally regarded as produced by living in primary groups.
noun
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the qualities common to humanity
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ordinary human behaviour, esp considered as less than perfect
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sociol the unique elements that form a basic part of human life and distinguish it from other animal life
Etymology
Origin of human nature
First recorded in 1735–45
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.
Perhaps, if you want to be really cynical about it, you could boil down all of human nature and biology and the emergence of consciousness into “a lot of math” as well.
From Salon ● Oct. 12, 2026
That distinction adds a new layer to the long-running debate over whether violence is an inherent part of human nature.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 7, 2026
She never incited anger; she simply pointed out the facts as she saw them and let human nature take its course.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 4, 2026
Music made by artificial intelligence will be banned from Australia's top charts under new guidelines aimed at protecting "the human nature of artistry", an industry body said Tuesday.
From Barron's ● Aug. 25, 2026
Cheating may or may not be human nature, but it is certainly a prominent feature in just about every human endeavor.
From "Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything" by Steven D. Levitt
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
