humankind
UK[ˌhjuːmənˈkaɪnd]US[ˈhjuːmənˌkaɪnd]
n
the human race; all people considered together.
Morpheme Breakdown
human
kind
human
of or belonging to man
kind
nature, race, family
Etymology
the word 'humankind' is a relatively modern compound, formed in english by combining two elements of distinct origins. the first, 'human', traces back to latin humanus, itself derived from homo (man), which is of uncertain proto-indo-european origin but possibly related to concepts of earth or ground. the second, 'kind', originates from old english cynd, meaning nature or race, which evolved from proto-germanic kundjaz, related to the verb 'to beget'. the compound thus literally means 'the race or family of humans', serving as a neutral and collective term for the entire human species, emphasizing shared nature and origin.
Analysis
Structure: human + kind
- human (from latin humanus, meaning 'of or belonging to man')
- kind (from old english cynd, meaning 'nature, race, family')
Examples
the history of humankind is filled with both great achievements and profound tragedies.
climate change poses a significant threat to the future of humankind.
art is one of the defining characteristics of humankind.