humanist

American  

[hyoo-muh-nist, yoo-] / ˈhyu mə nɪst, ˈyu- /

noun

1. a person having a strong interest in or concern for human welfare, values, and dignity.

2. a person devoted to or versed in the humanities.

3. a student of human nature or affairs.

4. a classical scholar.

5. (sometimes initial capital letter) any one of the scholars of the Renaissance who pursued and disseminated the study and understanding of the cultures of ancient Rome and Greece, and emphasized secular, individualistic, and critical thought.

6. (sometimes initial capital letter) a person who follows a form of philosophical or scientific humanism.

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adjective

1. of or relating to human affairs, nature, welfare, or values.

   our humanist principles; a humanist approach to social reform.

2. (sometimes initial capital letter) of or relating to the humanities or classical scholarship, especially that of the Renaissance humanists.

   humanist studies; the Humanist ideology of Petrarch.

3. of or relating to philosophical or scientific humanism.

   a humanist philosophy that clashed with his parents’ religious beliefs.

humanist Cultural  

1. In the Renaissance, a scholar who studied the languages and cultures of ancient Greece and Rome; today, a scholar of the humanities. The term secular humanist is applied to someone who concentrates on human activities and possibilities, usually downplaying or denying the importance of God and a life after death.

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Other Word Forms

• antihumanist noun
• antihumanistic adjective
• humanistically adverb
• nonhumanist noun
• nonhumanistic adjective
• pseudohumanistic adjective
• quasi-humanistic adjective
• semihumanistic adjective
• unhumanistic adjective

Etymology

Origin of humanist

First recorded in 1585–95; from Middle French, French humaniste “classics scholar, classicist”; equivalent to human + -ist

Example Sentences

Its republican institutions, humanist constitution and all-powerful president have much in common with America’s.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 12, 2025

Without meaningful time in the library, college degrees rarely produce the humanist individual their curriculums intend.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 9, 2025

What's more, he points out, the city has a long humanist tradition; when other cities in medieval Europe were cracking down on free thinkers, Basel welcomed them.

From BBC • May 11, 2025

The film is a blistering character study by one of cinema’s great humanist storytellers, made all the more mesmerizing by its stunning star.

From Salon • Jan. 10, 2025

Even Stephen Kellner, noted secular humanist, dressed up to go.

From "Darius the Great Is Not Okay" by Adib Khorram