adjective
humanitarian
hyuu-ma-nih-TAIR-rih-uhn
adjective
1
Concerned with improving people's welfare and reducing suffering.
"The country sent humanitarian aid after the earthquake."
"Several humanitarian organizations are working in the refugee camps."
noun
1
A person devoted to promoting people's welfare, often through charity work.
"She's known as a humanitarian who has donated millions to disaster relief."
"The award recognized his lifetime of humanitarian work."
How to Use Humanitarian
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishRelating to helping people in need, or a person who does that kind of work.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
humanitarian aid
humanitarian crisis
humanitarian worker
Word Forms
more humanitarian comparative, humanitarians plural, most humanitarian superlative
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The country sent _____ aid after the earthquake.
Etymology
From humanity plus the suffix -arian, meaning "one devoted to."