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
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
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.
Iraq is playing Norway at 6 Eastern, so tune in to watch Erling Haaland—one of the planet’s best goal scorers, who also happens to be a comically large human being.
From Slate • Jun. 16, 2026
There is no doubt that only children enjoy some advantages, but as standalones we are denied one of the most powerful lifelong connections that any human being can have.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 9, 2026
“You would think that a human being with a shred of dignity would recoil from this thing,” Oswalt said.
From Salon • Jun. 8, 2026
Obviously I had a lot of love for it, but that was also a time in my life when, as a human being, I was quite lost and angry.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 4, 2026
Which may be the stupidest thing I’ve ever said to another human being, but it makes her laugh some more.
From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman
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.
