ENGLISH
REFERENCE

mankind

n. uncountable
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈmænˈkaɪnd// UK //mæŋkˈaɪnd// mankind Archaic

n. all humans as a single group. It is a traditional way to talk about the history or future of the human race.

n. the human race as a collective whole. While historically standard, it is increasingly replaced by gender-neutral terms like 'humanity' in contemporary academic and formal registers.


SIMPLE

The moon landing was a giant leap for mankind.

CONTEXTUAL

Scientists are working to solve climate change for the benefit of all mankind.

COMPLEX

Throughout history, mankind has demonstrated a remarkable capacity for both profound artistic creation and systematic destruction.

Synonyms
Origin

From Middle English mankynde, alteration (due to kynde = “kind, nature, sort”) of earlier mankyn, from Old English mancynn. Equivalent to man + kin, and/or man + -kind. Cognate with Scots mankind, Middle High German mankünne, Danish mandkøn, Icelandic mannkyn (“mankind”). See also mankin.

Usage

Typically used without an article ('mankind' rather than 'the mankind').

Pitfall

The mankind must protect the earth.Mankind must protect the earth.Mankind is used as a proper-like collective noun and does not take a definite article.

Idioms1 entry

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