Showing results for "humanities"

• plural of humanity.

humanities

Cultural  

1. One of the main branches of learning. A scholar of the humanities studies history, literature, the fine arts, and philosophy.

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Explanation

The humanities are studies about human culture, such as literature, philosophy, and history. Studying the humanities gives you general knowledge, but not a practical trade — you probably wouldn’t study humanities at beauty school. If you're studying to be a dentist or a blacksmith, you're learning to be something in particular. Studying the humanities is different. The humanities provide general knowledge about the best accomplishments of human beings throughout history. Learning the works of Shakespeare, Plato, and Beethoven is part of the humanities. The humanities make a person educated, but not necessarily for a specific profession. Most people require a more specific area of study beyond the humanities.

Example Sentences

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humanities

A rigorous education in the humanities must fill the student with “wonder, admiration, and, above all, gratitude and humility, without which any attempt to revivify a decaying culture will fail.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 30, 2026

These courses won’t be necessary for all humanities students.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 21, 2026

Today he serves as provost professor of humanities and arts at USC.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 2, 2026

That numbers-backed thinking means engineers, software developers or entrepreneurs might all find it more appealing than humanities graduates, Lechterman said.

From Barron's ● Oct. 2, 2026

I say to Frank, who is sitting up on the catwalk operating the spotlight, “Frank, that baby is smarter than half of my humanities class. Is this how things have always been?”

From "Ask the Passengers" by A.S. King

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