humanitarian

Intermediatezipf 3.91

Pronunciation

/hjuːˌmænɪˈtɛəriən/(hyoo-man-ih-TAIR-ee-un)

Part of speech

adjective / nounneutral

Chinese

(adj) 人道主义的 (n) 人道主义者

Definition

Concerned with or seeking to promote human welfare; relating to the saving of human lives and the alleviation of suffering.

Word family

  • humanitarianism/hjuːˌmænɪˈtɛəriənɪzəm/(n)人道主义

Collocations

  • humanitarian aid
  • humanitarian crisis
  • humanitarian intervention
  • humanitarian organisation
  • humanitarian grounds

Examples

  1. 1.The UN launched a humanitarian aid operation to deliver food and medicine to the flooded region. (relief work)
  2. 2.She left her corporate law career to become a humanitarian, working with refugees in East Africa. (noun)

Synonyms

  • charitable/ˈtʃærɪtəbl/— giving to those in need
  • philanthropic/ˌfɪlənˈθrɒpɪk/— promoting the welfare of others — broader

Etymology

from Latin "humanitas" (human nature, kindness) — "humanus" (human)