humanist

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

/ ˈhyu mə nɪst or, often, ˈyu- /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR humanist ON THESAURUS.COM

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.

Nearby words

humane society, humanely, humanics, humanise, humanism, humanist, humanistic, humanistic psychology, humanitarian, humanitarianism, humanities

Origin of humanist

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

Related forms

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

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

Examples from the Web for humanistic

Yet when it comes to Palestinians under Israel's control, the humanistic approach to children's welfare tends to wither.
Dostoyevsky In The West Bank|Liza Rozovsky|January 31, 2013|DAILY BEAST
He prioritized spiritual values and humanistic principles above market forces and hedonistic impulses.
David Foster Wallace, Traditionalist? Considering ‘Both Flesh and Not: Essays’|David Masciotra|November 2, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Are they idealistic freedom fighters with humanistic principles?
Free Syrian Army Struggles to Survive Amid Charges That It’s Executing Opponents|Tobias Havmand|May 1, 2012|DAILY BEAST
They had Ph.D. degrees from some German school, all based on some atheistic, humanistic philosophy.
Left Behind Author Tim LaHaye on the Rapture|Marlow Stern|May 19, 2011|DAILY BEAST

The interest excited in Petrarch by the sight of Rome's ruins was important for his humanistic ideal.
Renaissance in Italy, Volume 2 (of 7)|John Addington Symonds
The Renaissance and the humanistic movement also reveal Jewish influences at work.
Jewish Literature and Other Essays|Gustav Karpeles
Thus it is that both forms of humanistic culture—socialism and individualism—fail to give a real meaning to life.
Rudolph Eucken|Abel J. Jones
A word more upon the place assigned by the essays to need and purpose and the humanistic factor generally.
Essays in Experimental Logic|John Dewey
The idealism of the eighteenth century was not reformative and humanistic, but revolutionary and humanitarian.
An Epitome of the History of Medicine|Roswell Park

Word Origin and History for humanistic (1 of 2)

humanistic

1845 (humanistical is from 1716), in reference to Renaissance or classical humanism; from humanist + -ic. From 1904 in reference to a modern philosophy that concerns itself with the interests of the human race.

Word Origin and History for humanistic (1 of 2)

humanist

1580s, "student of the classical humanities," from Middle French humaniste (16c.), formed on model of Italian umanista "student of human affairs or human nature," coined by Italian poet Lodovicio Ariosto (1474-1533), from Latin humanus "human" (see human; also cf. humanism). Philosophical sense is from 1903.

Culture definitions for humanistic

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.

humanist

noun

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

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of humanist

Examples from the Web for humanistic

Word Origin and History for humanistic (1 of 2)

humanistic

Word Origin and History for humanistic (1 of 2)

humanist

Culture definitions for humanistic

humanist