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Definition of humanitarian

humanitarian

/hjuːˌmæn.əˈtɛr.i.ən/
hu · man · i · tar · i · an

Plural:humanitarians
•
Adjective:humanitarian
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humanitarian Lexical Profile

humanitarian Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Concerned with or seeking to promote human welfare, alleviate suffering, and improve living conditions.

Example

"International organizations coordinated a massive humanitarian effort to deliver clean water and medical supplies to the region."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• noun

1

A person who actively works to promote human welfare, social reform, and the reduction of suffering.

Example

"She was honored as a dedicated humanitarian for spending decades building schools and clinics in underserved communities."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for humanitarian

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the early 19th century from humanity plus the suffix -arian (modeled on words like unitarian and utilitarian), originally referring in theological contexts to one who affirmed the purely human nature of Christ before shifting by mid-century to mean a person devoted to human welfare.

Cite this Entry


Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Humanitarian. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/humanitarian
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