humankind

noun

hu·​man·​kind ˈhyü-mən-ˌkīnd How to pronounce humankind (audio)
ˈyü-
singular or plural in construction
: the human race : humanity

Examples of humankind in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web But several members of the subcommission said humankind’s upending of Earth was a far more sprawling story, one that might not even have a single start date across every part of the planet. Raymond Zhong, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2024 Our ability to investigate the vastness of space and the variety of galaxies in greater detail will increase along with humankind's technological advancements, particularly in the areas of artificial intelligence and quantum computing. Chuck Brooks, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 The Origins of Pottery Beginning with pottery, this humble craft may have a stake as one of humankind's most significant inventions, as it’s played an important role in societies across the globe for thousands of years. Sean Mowbray, Discover Magazine, 29 Feb. 2024 Although OpenAI has some for-profit components, it is ultimately run by a nonprofit board that aims to develop AI safely and with humankind’s best interests at heart. Brian Contreras, Los Angeles Times, 22 Nov. 2023 So Much Stuff: How Humans Discovered Tools, Invented Meaning and Made More of Everything Archaeologist Chip Colwell investigates why humankind went from self-sufficient primates to nonstop shoppers, from needing nothing to needing everything. Chip Colwell, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 Feb. 2024 And this time, instead of swinging back to Earth once again, humankind has an opportunity to launch itself deeper into the solar system, establishing us even more as a spacefaring, possibly interplanetary, species. Marina Koren, The Atlantic, 24 Feb. 2024 That’s not to suggest that humankind has not been trying to figure out how conversations work before that time. Lance Eliot, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2024 This discovery could have important implications for humankind's response to climate change. Thomas Talhelm, Scientific American, 15 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'humankind.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1560, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of humankind was in 1560

Dictionary Entries Near humankind

Cite this Entry

“Humankind.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/humankind. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

humankind

noun
hu·​man·​kind ˈhyü-mən-ˌkīnd How to pronounce humankind (audio)
ˈyü-

Medical Definition

humankind

noun
hu·​man·​kind ˈhyü-mən-ˌkīnd How to pronounce humankind (audio) ˈyü How to pronounce humankind (audio)
: the human race

More from Merriam-Webster on humankind

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