humility
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of humility
First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English humilite, from Latin humilitās; see humble, -ty 2
Compare meaning
How does humility compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
Humility is the quality of being humble. If you meet one of your heroes and feel nervous and in awe of her, you are experiencing humility. Humility comes from the Latin word humilis, which literally means "low." If you feel humility in front of someone, you feel small in the scheme of things — that you are just a simple, insignificant person. Someone who spends his life taking care of others shows humility. Although it's related to humiliation (which makes you feel low in a bad way), humility is usually used to talk about a lack of ego.
Vocabulary lists containing humility
Tuesdays with Morrie
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The Old Man and the Sea
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Unit 3: Compelling Evidence
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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.
Is teaching your three children humility hard because they’re being raised in a more financially stable home?
From The Wall Street Journal • May 27, 2026
These men aren’t preaching Jesus Christ’s gospel of self-sacrifice and humility.
From Salon • May 4, 2026
But while pundits praise her tenacity, her humility and her goalscoring impact, Blackstenius is not the perfect player.
From BBC • May 2, 2026
He promised the crowd to serve “with humility in having your trust and with the strongest resolve to do my best for our city.”
From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026
I picked up one of his sweetcakes and began to eat it, hoping to teach him a valuable lesson in humility.
From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss
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.
