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Definition of "humanitarian" []

  • One who is devoted to the promotion of human welfare and the advancement of social reforms; a philanthropist. (noun)
  • Of, relating to, or characteristic of a humanitarian or humanitarianism. See Synonyms at humane. (adjective)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Use "humanitarian" in a sentence
  • "Again, we begin with the term humanitarian military intervention: some scholars claim how it is possible when using military and force for a humanitarian purpose."
  • "On Sunday, Pope Benedict urged the international community to move quickly to address what he called the "humanitarian catastrophe.""
  • "U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres asked the international community Sunday to provide quick and generous assistance to Egypt and Tunisia, so that they can cope with what he called a "humanitarian emergency.""