humanitarian
[ hyoo-man-i-tair-ee-uh n or, often, yoo- ]
/ hyuˌmæn ɪˈtɛər i ən or, often, yu- /
adjective
having concern for or helping to improve the welfare and happiness of people.
of or relating to ethical or theological humanitarianism.
pertaining to the saving of human lives or to the alleviation of suffering: a humanitarian crisis.
noun
a person actively engaged in promoting human welfare and social reforms, as a philanthropist.
a person who professes ethical or theological humanitarianism.
RELATED CONTENT
RELATED WORDS
charitable, humane, philanthropic, altruistic, good, helper, patron, benefactor, philanthropist, do-gooder, altruist, beneficent, benevolent, eleemosynary, generous, idealistic, kindly, public-spirited
Nearby words
- humanise,
- humanism,
- humanist,
- humanistic,
- humanistic psychology,
- humanitarianism,
- humanities,
- humanity,
- humanize,
- humankind
Origin of humanitarian
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for humanitarian
humanitarian
/ (hjuːˌmænɪˈtɛərɪən) /
adjective
having the interests of mankind at heart
of or relating to ethical or theological humanitarianism
noun
a philanthropist
an adherent of humanitarianism
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
humanitarian
1794 (n.) in the theological sense "one who affirms the humanity of Christ but denies his pre-existence and divinity," from humanity + suffix from unitarian, etc.; see humanism. Meaning "philanthropist, one who advocates or practices human action to solve social problems" is from 1842, originally disparaging, with a suggestion of excess. As an adjective, by 1834.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper