What does "humanism" mean?
The study of the humanities or the liberal arts; literary (especially classical) scholarship.
Humanism
/ˈhjumənɪz(ə)m/ noun
noun ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The study of the humanities or the liberal arts; literary (especially classical) scholarship.
- Grammar: humanism is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: anthroposophy, atomism, bibliolatry, bibliomania.
- Useful contrasts: anti humanism, medieval scholasticism, misanthropy.
- Usage evidence: The poet always takes account of humanism before everything.
How to use "humanism"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "humanism" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "humanism" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "humanism" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "humanism" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "humanism" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "anthroposophy" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "humanism", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The study of the humanities or the liberal arts; literary (especially classical) scholarship. uncountable, usually
- 2 the doctrine emphasizing a person's capacity for self-realization through reason; rejects religion and the supernatural wordnet
- 3 Specifically, a cultural and intellectual movement in 14th-16th century Europe characterised by attention to classical culture and a promotion of vernacular texts, notably during the Renaissance. capitalized, historical, often, uncountable, usually
"There were good reasons for humanism and the Renaissance to take their origins from fourteenth-century Italy."
- 4 the doctrine that people's duty is to promote human welfare wordnet
- 5 An ethical system that centers on humans and their values, needs, interests, abilities, dignity and freedom; especially used for a secular one which rejects theistic religion and superstition. uncountable, usually
"The idea of a universal human nature brings us to a third theme, humanism. The thinkers of the Age of Reason and the Enlightenment saw an urgent need for a secular foundation for morality, because they were haunted by a historical memory of centuries of religious carnage: the Crusades, the Inquisition, witch hunts, the European wars of religion. They laid that foundation in what we now call humanism, which privileges the well-being of individual men, women, and children over the glory of the tribe, race, nation, or religion. It is individuals, not groups, who are sentient—who feel pleasure and pain, fulfillment and anguish. Whether it is framed as the goal of providing the greatest happiness for the greatest number or as a categorical imperative to treat people as ends rather than means, it was the universal capacity of a person to suffer and flourish, they said, that called on our moral concern."
Show 2 more definitions
- 6 the cultural movement of the Renaissance; based on classical studies wordnet
- 7 Humanitarianism. uncountable, usually
"Near-synonyms: solidarity, philanthropy, generosity"
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"The poet always takes account of humanism before everything."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "humanism"?
Common synonyms include: anthroposophy, atomism, bibliolatry, bibliomania, bluestockingism, book learning.
How do you use "humanism" in a sentence?
The poet always takes account of humanism before everything.
How do you pronounce "humanism"?
Pronounced /ˈhjumənɪz(ə)m/.
Etymology
From human + -ism, borrowed from German Humanismus, coined by Friedrich Immanuel Niethammer in 1808.