mankind
Americannoun
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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.
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men, as distinguished from women.
Some still maintain that mankind is stronger, braver, smarter than womankind, but many others consider that absolute nonsense.
noun
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human beings collectively; humanity
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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
Is man gender-neutral? See man.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of mankind
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English; man ( def. ) + kind 2 ( def. )
Explanation
Mankind is every single human being — all of us. The discovery of cures for diseases benefits all of mankind, while global warming is not so kind to mankind. The entire human species can be referred to in one simple word with mankind. Pollution is something that harms mankind across the globe, and disasters like war and famine have affected mankind all through our history. If you think your dad's brownies are the very best in the entire world, you could exaggerate a little and say, "They're the most delicious thing known to mankind." In its Old English origin, man is gender-neutral, meaning simply "person."
Vocabulary lists containing mankind
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.
It was nearly 30 years ago when chess helped mankind properly understand that it was being outsmarted by machines.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 23, 2026
I grew up in South Africa and you’re forced to play every sport known to mankind.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 14, 2026
When it was unveiled by Chinese developers in 2016, the $100bn mega-project was pitched as "a dream paradise for all mankind": a special financial zone that could house some 700,000 residents.
From BBC ● Aug. 11, 2026
“As long as mankind shall continue to bestow more liberal applause on their destroyers than on their benefactors,” he reflected, “the thirst of military glory will ever be the vice of the most exalted characters.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026
He was, in a sense, seeking to prove that the very creator of mankind was also its greatest oppressor.
From "Where Things Come Back" by John Corey Whaley
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