ENGLISH
REFERENCE

humanism

n.
C1 Advanced US //ˈhjuməˌnɪzəm// UK //hjˈuːmənˌɪzəm// hu·man·ism Archaic

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.


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.

Synonyms
Origin

From human + -ism, borrowed from German Humanismus, coined by Friedrich Immanuel Niethammer in 1808.

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