human being
Americannoun
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human beings
plural
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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.
“To have to care for another human being, especially one who is more innocent than you inherently, is this tremendous emotional demand, which men don’t usually deal with,” Weitz said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 7, 2026
But there are others that he only wants a human being to answer.
From Barron's ● Oct. 25, 2026
It also means that many criminal offenses hinge on attributing a wrongful act to the mental state of a human being.
From Slate ● Oct. 25, 2026
"I have a lot of respect for Michael Carrick. He is a great human being, he is a great personality. Every time we meet each other, we have a really good relationship."
From BBC ● Oct. 23, 2026
What if Nanuq had turned into a human being down there?
From "Two Degrees" by Alan Gratz
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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.
