humility

American  

[hyoo-mil-i-tee, yoo-] / hyuˈmɪl ɪ ti, yu- /

noun

1. the quality or condition of being humble; modest opinion or estimate of one's own importance, rank, etc.

   Synonyms:

   submissiveness , meekness , lowliness

   Antonyms

   pride

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humility British  

/ hjuːˈmɪlɪtɪ /

noun

1. the state or quality of being humble

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Etymology

Origin of humility

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English humilite, from Latin humilitās; humble, -ty ²

Compare meaning

How does humility compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• humbleness vs. humility

Example Sentences

College courses must actively cultivate the virtues of curiosity, open-mindedness, intellectual humility, analytical rigor and, above all, dedication to the pursuit of truth.

From The Wall Street Journal

"Her speech today was an exercise in self-delusion. Today she had an opportunity to apologise and show some humility," she said.

From BBC

Duke’s interim dean of admissions, Kathy Phillips, said the revision aligns with a school initiative to “build skills to engage with complex topics with an open mind and humility.”

From The Wall Street Journal

“When the second TikTok came out, our team acted swiftly and with humility, immediately taking accountability and sending her a package to ensure we got it right this time,” Solomon said in a statement.

From The Wall Street Journal

Despite his fame, he often spoke with humility about his career.

From Barron's

Related Words

• shyness