humanitarian

[hyoo-man-i-tair-ee-uhn, yoo-]

adjective

1. having concern for or helping to improve the welfare and happiness of people.

2. of or relating to ethical or theological humanitarianism.

3. pertaining to the saving of human lives or to the alleviation of suffering.

   a humanitarian crisis.

noun

1. a person actively engaged in promoting human welfare and social reforms, as a philanthropist.

2. a person who professes ethical or theological humanitarianism.

humanitarian

/ hjuːˌmænɪˈtɛərɪən /

adjective

1. having the interests of mankind at heart

2. of or relating to ethical or theological humanitarianism

noun

1. a philanthropist

2. an adherent of humanitarianism

Other Word Forms

• antihumanitarian adjective
• semihumanitarian adjective
• unhumanitarian adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of humanitarian¹

First recorded in 1810–20; humanit(y) + -arian

Example Sentences

Volker Turk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, called the deaths "appalling" and called on Israel to comply with international humanitarian law.

Read more on BBC

Vilnius has been issuing humanitarian visas since 2020 for people fleeing repression in Belarus following the presidential election and subsequent crackdown on protests.

Read more on Barron's

The WFP said the expulsions came a "pivotal time" as humanitarian needs in Sudan had "never been greater with more than 24 million people facing acute food insecurity".

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"Neither EU citizens nor Russian citizens are allowed to leave the transit train," except in "urgent humanitarian reasons," like if a passenger falls seriously ill, Lithuania's State Border Guard Service told AFP in written comments.

Read more on Barron's

The U.A.E. at the time said the cargo planes sent to Chad had a humanitarian purpose.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• altruistic 
• charitable 
• humane 
• philanthropic