# human being

idiom · CEFR B2

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/human-being
Updated: 2026-04-22

## Meaning

a person, as distinct from an animal, a machine, or a god.

## Examples

- Every human being deserves to be treated with kindness and respect.
- The charity focuses on providing clean water to every human being in the remote village, regardless of their background.
- In the face of such profound technological advancement, we must remember that the fundamental needs of a human being remain unchanged by the passage of time.

## Origin

From the adjective *human* and the noun *being*. The term emerged from a grammatical necessity in which the adjective *human* required a base noun to function as a substantive.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.