humanist

[ hyoo-muh-nist or, often, yoo- ]

/ ˈhyu mə nɪst or, often, ˈyu- /

noun

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

a person devoted to or versed in the humanities.

a student of human nature or affairs.

a classical scholar.

(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.

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

adjective Also hu·man·is·tic [hyoo-muh-nis-tik, or, often, yoo‐] /ˌhyu məˈnɪs tɪk, or, often, ˌyu‐/

of or relating to human affairs, nature, welfare, or values: our humanist principles; a humanist approach to social reform.

(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.

of or relating to philosophical or scientific humanism: a humanist philosophy that clashed with his parents’ religious beliefs.

Words nearby humanist

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

Origin of humanist

1585–95; < Middle French, French humaniste “classics scholar, classicist” See human, -ist

OTHER WORDS FROM humanist

hu·man·is·ti·cal·ly, adverban·ti·hu·man·ist, noun, adjectivean·ti·hu·man·is·tic, adjectivenon·hu·ma·nist, noun

non·hu·man·is·tic, adjectivepseu·do·hu·man·is·tic, adjectivequa·si-hu·man·is·tic, adjectivesem·i·hu·man·is·tic, adjectiveun·hu·man·is·tic, adjective

Examples from the Web for humanist

“You almost saw a humanist as well as an absolute demonic side,” she says now.
Westgate's Chilling Security Video Reveals Shopping Mall Bloodbath|Nina Strochlic|September 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“There should be humanist alternatives to church in basic training,” he said.
U.S. Air Force: Swear to God—or Get Out|Dave Majumdar|September 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Once, the humanist idea used to animate the very core of the university.
Can Higher Education Really Save Our Humanity?|James Poulos|February 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But if the religious Zionist youth movements are any indication, those values will be anything but universal or humanist.
Racism and Religious Zionist Youth Movements: Own Up|Dr. Assaf David|May 30, 2013|DAILY BEAST

So not only would I consider myself a feminist, but I would consider myself a humanist.
‘Parks and Rec’ Star Nick Offerman on Dicks, the Opposite Sex & Feminism|Anna Klassen|May 29, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The finds in monastery libraries of both countries in the humanist movement of the fifteenth century were especially rich.
Horace and His Influence|Grant Showerman
With humanist convictions, he had little of the humanist spirit.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 6, Slice 5|Various
Mr. Joseph again is much bewildered as to what a humanist can mean when he uses the word knowledge.
Essays in Radical Empiricism|William James
But the Humanist nations, being non-militant, turned a deaf ear.
The Sequel|George A. Taylor
The author's real name was Camillo Scrofa, a humanist and schoolmaster of Vicenza.
Renaissance in Italy: Italian Literature|John Addington Symonds

Cultural definitions for humanist

humanist

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.