HUMANISM

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does humanism mean? 

• HUMANISM (noun)
  The noun HUMANISM has 3 senses:

1. the doctrine that people's duty is to promote human welfare

2. the doctrine emphasizing a person's capacity for self-realization through reason; rejects religion and the supernatural

3. the cultural movement of the Renaissance; based on classical studies

  Familiarity information: HUMANISM used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• HUMANISM (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The doctrine that people's duty is to promote human welfare

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

humanism; humanitarianism

Hypernyms ("humanism" is a kind of...):

doctrine; ism; philosophical system; philosophy; school of thought (a belief (or system of beliefs) accepted as authoritative by some group or school)

Derivation:

humanist (an advocate of the principles of humanism; someone concerned with the interests and welfare of humans)

humanistic (marked by humanistic values and devotion to human welfare)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The doctrine emphasizing a person's capacity for self-realization through reason; rejects religion and the supernatural

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

humanism; secular humanism

Hypernyms ("humanism" is a kind of...):

doctrine; ism; philosophical system; philosophy; school of thought (a belief (or system of beliefs) accepted as authoritative by some group or school)

Derivation:

humanist (an advocate of the principles of humanism; someone concerned with the interests and welfare of humans)

Sense 3

Meaning:

The cultural movement of the Renaissance; based on classical studies

Classified under:

Nouns denoting groupings of people or objects

Hypernyms ("humanism" is a kind of...):

cultural movement (a group of people working together to advance certain cultural goals)

Derivation:

humanist (a classical scholar or student of the liberal arts)

humanistic (of or pertaining to Renaissance humanism)