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humanitarianism

[hyoo-man-i-tair-ee-uh-niz-uh m or, often, yoo-]
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noun
  1. humanitarian principles or practices.
  2. Ethics.
    1. the doctrine that humanity's obligations are concerned wholly with the welfare of the human race.
    2. the doctrine that humankind may become perfect without divine aid.
  3. Theology. the doctrine that Jesus Christ possessed a human nature only.
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Origin of humanitarianism

First recorded in 1825–35; humanitarian + -ism
Related formshu·man·i·tar·i·an·ist, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

benevolencekindnessselflessnesshumanitarianismbenignitykindlinessaltruismgoodwillbeneficencegenerosityphilanthropygoodnesscharitygraciousnesscompassionmagnanimity

Examples from the Web for humanitarianism

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • Humanitarianism has permeated our mores and has been a fountain of phrases.

    Folkways

    William Graham Sumner

  • Humanitarianism is nourished by pathos and it stimulates pathos.

    Folkways

    William Graham Sumner

  • Do you understand what I mean by the false emphasis of our humanitarianism?

  • We 'stoop to conquer' in humanitarianism, as well as in other love.

    Joyce's Investments

    Fannie E. Newberry

  • Put it fairly on the ground of humanitarianism, then, Palgrave; not of nationality.

    Adrienne Toner

    Anne Douglas Sedgwick

British Dictionary definitions for humanitarianism

humanitarianism

noun
  1. humanitarian principles
  2. ethics
    1. the doctrine that man's duty is to strive to promote the welfare of mankind
    2. the doctrine that man can achieve perfection through his own resources
  3. theol the belief that Jesus Christ was only a mortal man
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Derived Formshumanitarianist, noun
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

Word Origin and History for humanitarianism

n.

by 1794 as a Christian theological position, from humanitarian + -ism. Sense related to ethical benevolence attested by 1838.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper