mankind

[man-kahynd, man-kahynd]

noun

1. the human race; human beings collectively without reference to gender; humankind.

   It is no longer possible, if it ever was, for a single human brain to hold all of mankind's scientific knowledge.

2. men, as distinguished from women.

   Some still maintain that mankind is stronger, braver, smarter than womankind, but many others consider that absolute nonsense.

mankind

/ ˌmænˈkaɪnd /

noun

1. human beings collectively; humanity

2. men collectively, as opposed to womankind

Usage

Nowadays many people object to the use of mankind to refer to all human beings and use the term humankind instead

Gender Note

Is man gender-neutral? See man.

Other Word Forms

• premankind noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of mankind¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English; man ( def. ) + kind ² ( def. )

Example Sentences

Scientists have long warned that climate change caused by mankind's burning of fossil fuels will make periods of drought more intense and longer-lasting, creating the ideal conditions for wildfires.

Read more on Barron's

Tessa sees it as a mission, one of dozens that involve the company colonizing planets and stripping their resources, justifying that plunder as necessary to benefit mankind.

Read more on Salon

“The violation of the freedom to use international waters,” Khrushchev charged, “is an act of aggression which pushes mankind toward the abyss of a world nuclear missile war.”

Read more on Literature

“I’ve always dreamed of seeing the future,” Doc says with glee, “Looking beyond my years, seeing the progress of mankind.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

In a philosophical discussion of the kind that is more common on college campuses than in corporate headquarters, Jordan and Yash argue about whether mankind has made moral progress.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• humanity 
• humankind 
• society