Word
Definition
n. a belief that people are the most important thing in the world and that they should be treated with respect and dignity. It focuses on human values and the importance of education and reason.
n. a philosophical and ethical stance that emphasizes the value and agency of human beings, individually and collectively, rather than some other thing such as religion or the supernatural. It is often associated with the Renaissance and the Enlightenment.
Examples
“The school teaches humanism to help students understand their own values.”
“The architect designed the building with humanism in mind, ensuring that the space felt warm and welcoming to everyone.”
“The rise of humanism during the Renaissance marked a significant shift from medieval scholasticism, placing the individual's potential and the study of classical texts at the center of intellectual life.”
Examples
simple
“The school teaches humanism to help students understand their own values.”
contextual
“The architect designed the building with humanism in mind, ensuring that the space felt warm and welcoming to everyone.”
complex
“The rise of humanism during the Renaissance marked a significant shift from medieval scholasticism, placing the individual's potential and the study of classical texts at the center of intellectual life.”
Real-World Examples
“His fundamental humanism – his belief that humans might not yet be good news but still might be good news – inspired me then and inspires me still.” “This new world, where national and religious identity becomes less important, will require a common ethical foundation based upon an open and flexible humanism.” Etymology
From human + -ism, borrowed from German Humanismus, coined by Friedrich Immanuel Niethammer in 1808.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/humanism
「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0
‘외래어’ data: 한국어기초사전 (국립국어원), CC BY-SA 2.0 KR