humanitarian

American  

[hyoo-man-i-tair-ee-uhn, yoo-] / hyuˌmæn ɪˈtɛər i ən, yu- /

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.

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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 British  

/ hjuːˌmænɪˈtɛərɪən /

adjective

1. having the interests of mankind at heart

2. of or relating to ethical or theological humanitarianism

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noun

1. a philanthropist

2. an adherent of humanitarianism

Other Word Forms

• antihumanitarian adjective
• semihumanitarian adjective
• unhumanitarian adjective

Etymology

Origin of humanitarian

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

Example Sentences

Southern Command, which oversees operations in most of Latin America from Florida, tends to focus on chronically underfunded tasks including humanitarian missions.

From The Wall Street Journal

E-wallets are being used to send financial aid directly to needy families, by humanitarian agencies including Unicef and the World Food Programme.

From BBC

In October the prince unveiled a global memorial for humanitarian aid workers where he delivered a speech on humanitarian values.

From BBC

The United Nations humanitarian office says more than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank since then, mostly in the north.

From The Wall Street Journal

He was one of around 86,000 Afghans who assisted U.S. forces or were otherwise at-risk and brought into the country on a temporary status known as “humanitarian parole.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• altruistic
• charitable
• humane
• philanthropic