ENGLISH
REFERENCE

humanist

n. countable
C1 Advanced US //ˈhjumənɪst// UK //hjˈuːmɐnˌɪst// hu·man·ist Archaic

n. someone who believes that human reason and values are more important than religious beliefs. They focus on making the world better through science, ethics, and kindness.

n. an adherent of a philosophical system that emphasizes human agency, rationalism, and ethics over divine or supernatural intervention. Often associated with the Renaissance movement that revived interest in classical Greek and Roman thought.


SIMPLE

As a humanist, she believes in solving problems through reason.

CONTEXTUAL

The speaker argued from a humanist perspective, focusing on universal human rights rather than religious tradition.

COMPLEX

The transition from medieval scholasticism to the humanist inquiry of the Renaissance marked a profound shift in how European scholars perceived the relationship between the individual and the state.

Synonyms
Origin

From Middle French humaniste.

Usage

Often used to describe historical scholars of the Renaissance or modern secular thinkers.

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