adjective
humanitär
humanitarian
Definition & meaning
humanitär means humanitarian: concerned with protecting human life, relieving suffering, and helping people in need, especially during wars, disasters, or other crises.
It can also describe an action or decision motivated by concern for human welfare.
Grammar & Word origin
- Part of speech: adjective
- Adverbial use: humanitär can also mean “in a humanitarian way.”
- Origin: related to Humanität (“humanity” or “humaneness”), ultimately from Latin humanitas.
Synonyms & antonyms
- menschenfreundlich — “benevolent” or “philanthropic”; emphasizes a friendly attitude toward people rather than organized humanitarian aid.
- wohltätig — “charitable”; often refers specifically to giving or supporting charitable causes.
- unmenschlich — “inhumane”; describes treatment that causes suffering or disregards human dignity.
- grausam — “cruel”; emphasizes causing pain or suffering, rather than being a direct opposite in every context.
Common phrases & collocations
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Examples
Die Organisation leistet humanitäre Hilfe.adjective
The organization provides humanitarian aid.
Unsere Hilfe muss humanitär und unparteiisch sein.adjective
Our aid must be humanitarian and impartial.
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