/ hjuːˌmænɪˈteəriən; NAmE -ˈter-/ adjective
[ usually before noun ] concerned with reducing suffering and improving the conditions that people live in :
to provide humanitarian aid to the war zone
humanitarian issues
a humanitarian organization
They are calling for the release of the hostages on humanitarian grounds .
The expulsion of thousands of people represents a humanitarian catastrophe of enormous proportions.
► hu·mani·tar·ian noun
► hu·mani·tar·ian·ism / -ɪzəm; NAmE / noun [ U ]
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WORD ORIGIN
early 19th cent.: from humanity + -arian .