What is humanitarian? How to use in English

Discover the meaning of humanitarian in English, its pronunciation, and how to use it correctly in real-life situations. See examples and easy memorization tips.

Definition & pronunciation of humanitarian

humanitarianadjective

nhân đạo

/hjuːˌmænɪˈteəriən//hjuːˌmænɪˈteriən/

Where does the word humanitarian come from?

The word "humanitarian" has its roots in the 18th century. It originated from the Latin words "humanus," meaning "concerning man," and "itarian," from the Greek word "itarios," meaning "regarding" or "pertaining to." In 1797, the term "humanitarian" was first coined to describe a person who believes in the allocation of resources to promote the well-being of humanity, often through charitable or philanthropic efforts. The concept of humanitarianism has been present throughout human history, but the term gained prominence during the Enlightenment era, where it became a key aspect of the values of the French Revolution. The founding of organizations like the Red Cross in 1863 and the League of Red Cross Societies in 1919 further popularized the term and the principles of humanitarian work. Today, the word "humanitarian" is widely used to describe individuals and organizations working to alleviate human suffering and promote peace, justice, and dignity.

Vocabulary summary humanitarian

typenoun

meaninghumanitarian

Example of vocabulary humanitariannamespace

meaning

connected with helping people who are suffering and improving the conditions that they are living in

  • to provide humanitarian aid to the war zone
  • humanitarian issues
  • a humanitarian organization
  • They are calling for the release of the hostages on humanitarian grounds.
  • The aid organization sent a team of highly skilled and dedicated humanitarians to the war-torn country to provide much-needed food, shelter, and medical assistance to the affected population.
meaning

describing an event or situation that causes or involves a lot of human suffering, especially one that requires aid to be provided to a large number of people

  • a humanitarian crisis
  • These floods are the worst humanitarian disaster the country has seen.
  • The expulsion of thousands of people represents a humanitarian catastrophe of enormous proportions.

Synonyms and related words for humanitarian

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