humane
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
showing kindness and care for people or animals, especially those who are suffering.
characterised by tenderness, compassion, and a desire to alleviate the suffering of others.
Simple“The charity works to ensure the humane treatment of farm animals.”
In context“The international community called for a more humane approach to the refugee crisis, prioritising safety and dignity over strict border enforcement.”
PitfallThe law ensures human treatment of prisoners. The law ensures humane treatment of prisoners.Use 'human' for things related to people in general, but use 'humane' for things related to kindness and mercy.
Synonyms - 02 C2 Proficiency
relating to subjects like literature, history, and philosophy.
pertaining to the branches of learning concerned with human culture, specifically the humanities or classical studies.
Simple“He spent his life dedicated to humane studies and classical Greek literature.”
In context“The university's curriculum was rooted in the humane tradition, emphasizing the importance of rhetoric and moral philosophy in a well-rounded education.”
UsageIn modern English, this sense is almost exclusively found in the phrase 'humane studies' or 'humane letters'.
“She was able to safely catch him in a humane trap and take him to the vets.”
From Middle English humain, humayne, from Old French humain, umain, from Latin hūmānus, from Latin homō (“man”). Cognate with Old English guma (“man”), whence the groom in English bridegroom.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.