humanitarian
Americanadjective
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having concern for or helping to improve the welfare and happiness of people.
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of or relating to ethical or theological humanitarianism.
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pertaining to the saving of human lives or to the alleviation of suffering.
a humanitarian crisis.
noun
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humanitarians
plural
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a person actively engaged in promoting human welfare and social reforms, as a philanthropist.
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a person who professes ethical or theological humanitarianism.
adjective
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having the interests of mankind at heart
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of or relating to ethical or theological humanitarianism
noun
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a philanthropist
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an adherent of humanitarianism
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of humanitarian
First recorded in 1810–20; humanit(y) + -arian
Explanation
Despite many jokes to the contrary, a humanitarian is not someone who eats humans (as a vegetarian eats vegetables)! A humanitarian is a person concerned with the welfare of all humankind. A millionaire would be considered a great humanitarian if he donated much of his wealth for improving education, housing, and food for the poor. As an adjective, humanitarian is used to describe something or someone who displays the characteristics of someone concerned with human welfare: "The humanitarian project was developed to help women become self-sufficient in third world countries."
Vocabulary lists containing humanitarian
Giving Words
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Power Suffix: -arian
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Alastair Chambers, from Gloucester, said the mix-up happened when he returned to Kathmandu after flying back in a humanitarian aid helicopter from a village near the Trishuli river.
From BBC ● Sep. 2, 2026
In the first years after the Taliban swept to power in 2021, some of their ministers made light of humanitarian issues, saying God would provide.
From BBC ● Sep. 1, 2026
The United States and Canada said they would each provide around $3.6 million in humanitarian assistance.
From Barron's ● Aug. 30, 2026
The United States and Canada said they would provide $3.6 million each in humanitarian aid to Nepal.
From Barron's ● Aug. 30, 2026
Those who are fortunate enough to secure asylum status receive humanitarian aid and assistance with establishing a new life in Europe.
From "Without Refuge" by Jane Mitchell
The number of aid workers killed worldwide in 2025 reached 350, with the most fatalities in Gaza and Sudan, the United Nations said Wednesday, calling attacks on humanitarians "unacceptable."
From Barron's ● Aug. 19, 2026
But thank God we have humanitarians like Jeff and Janine Yass who still believe in lifting them up.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 21, 2026
By early January, humanitarians were preparing to expand operations.
From Salon ● Dec. 16, 2025
But humanitarians generally view the drops as a last resort.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2025
It is a striking and significant fact that these humanitarians are continually breaking the simplest rules of honesty and decent living.
From The Jessica Letters: An Editor's Romance by Paul Elmer More
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
