human 2 W3 BrE AmE ( also ˌhuman ˈbeing ) noun [countable]
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ human , ↑ humanism , ↑ humanity ≠ ↑ inhumanity , ↑ humanitarian , ↑ humanitarianism , ↑ humankind , ↑ humanoid ; adjective : ↑ human ≠ ↑ inhuman , ↑ superhuman , ↑ subhuman , ↑ humane ≠ ↑ inhumane , ↑ humanitarian , ↑ humanoid ; adverb : ↑ humanly ≠ ↑ inhumanly , ↑ humanely ≠ ↑ inhumanely ; verb : ↑ humanize ]
a person
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THESAURUS
▪ human/human being a person:
The monkeys show no fear of humans.
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It was thought that the disease could not be passed to human beings.
▪ the human race all the people in the world, considered as one group:
War and aggression threaten the future of the whole human race.
▪ humanity people in general – used especially when you are talking about people’s rights, or their suffering etc:
The general was accused of committing crimes against humanity.
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30% of humanity live in conditions of terrible poverty.
▪ mankind/humankind people in general – used especially when talking about their history and development. Some people prefer not to use mankind because it sounds like it does not include women:
Travelling into space was a great advance for mankind.
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The greatest threat to humankind is poverty.
▪ man people in general – used especially when you are talking about people compared to nature. Some people prefer not to use man because it sounds like it does not include women:
The grandeur of the mountains is a constant reminder of man’s insignificance.