personhood

American  

[pur-suhn-hood] / ˈpɜr sənˌhʊd /

noun

1. the state or fact of being a person.

2. the state or fact of being an individual or having human characteristics and feelings.

   a harsh prison system that deprives prisoners of their personhood.

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personhood British  

/ ˈp£ːsənˌhʊd /

noun

1. the condition of being a person who is an individual with inalienable rights, esp under the 14th Amendment of the Constitution of the United States

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Etymology

Origin of personhood

First recorded in 1955–60; person + -hood

Example Sentences

Private, lyric utterances—expressions of personhood—complement public statements.

From The Wall Street Journal

It’s a reminder that when someone tries to dehumanize you, laughing in their face can be a declaration of personhood.

From Salon

And she’s still battling and she’s still fighting for agency, for her personhood.

From Los Angeles Times

For Grizzly Bear, there’s never been a line between performance and personhood.

From Los Angeles Times

But with Lawrence, someone so known for her authenticity, the connection is genuine, on full display as Grace spends the following months slipping between her personhood and her primal id.

From Salon