humanism

[ hyoo-muh-niz-uh m or, often, yoo- ]

/ ˈhyu məˌnɪz əm or, often, ˈyu- /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR humanism ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

any system or mode of thought or action in which human interests, values, and dignity predominate.

devotion to or study of the humanities.

(sometimes initial capital letter) the studies, principles, or culture of the humanists.

Philosophy. a variety of ethical theory and practice that emphasizes reason, scientific inquiry, and human fulfillment in the natural world and often rejects the importance of belief in God.

Nearby words

human trafficking, human-interest story, humane, humane society, humanics, humanism, humanist, humanistic psychology, humanitarian, humanitarianism, humanities

Origin of humanism

First recorded in 1805–15; human + -ism

Related forms

an·ti·hu·man·ism, nounsem·i·hu·man·ism, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for humanism

It was the ultimate guarantor of the humanism he advanced against Nazism.
The Catholic Philosopher Who Took on Hitler|John Henry Crosby|December 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Gloria Steinem famously said that feminism is, at its core, humanism.
Ten Reasons Women Are Losing While Gays Keep Winning|Jay Michaelson|July 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
For all its supposed warmth and humanism, Midnight is completely inhuman to half the population.
‘Midnight in Paris:’ I Loathe It|Richard Rushfield|February 9, 2012|DAILY BEAST
The vexatious and wasteful conflict between naturalism and humanism is terminated.
Reconstruction in Philosophy|John Dewey

He knew no Latin; he had no taste for humanism; he was a simple growth of the rich humour of the people.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 8, Slice 8|Various
The classical interest of humanism found its medium in the college or "grammar school."
Ethics|John Dewey and James Hayden Tufts
We are not using the term "humanism" in this chapter in its strictly technical sense.
Preaching and Paganism|Albert Parker Fitch
There are then two sets of media through which humanism has affected preaching.
Preaching and Paganism|Albert Parker Fitch

British Dictionary definitions for humanism

humanism

/ (ˈhjuːməˌnɪzəm) /

noun

the denial of any power or moral value superior to that of humanity; the rejection of religion in favour of a belief in the advancement of humanity by its own efforts

a philosophical position that stresses the autonomy of human reason in contradistinction to the authority of the Church

(often capital) a cultural movement of the Renaissance, based on classical studies

interest in the welfare of people

Derived Forms

humanist, nounhumanistic, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012