Word
Definition
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.
Examples
“As a humanist, she believes in solving problems through reason.”
“The speaker argued from a humanist perspective, focusing on universal human rights rather than religious tradition.”
“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.”
Examples
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.”
Usage
Often used to describe historical scholars of the Renaissance or modern secular thinkers.
Real-World Examples
“In a city as intellectually vibrant as Venice, where humanists were as fascinated by anything Hebrew as they were by Latin and Greek, the exchange of ideas was inevitable.” “The company's vision of a "humanist" AI highlights the central challenge facing the technology - how to make it more powerful, without losing sight of the values it is meant to serve.” Etymology
From Middle French humaniste.
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/humanist
‘외래어’ data: 한국어기초사전 (국립국어원), CC BY-SA 2.0 KR