Nonhuman: meaning, definitions and examples
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nonhuman
[ nɒnˈhjuːmən ]
not human
The term 'nonhuman' refers to anything that is not human, including animals, plants, and artificial entities. It is often used in discussions regarding ethics, rights, and responsibilities toward beings and entities that do not belong to the human species. Nonhuman can also refer to characteristics or actions that are alien to human behavior. In various fields such as biology, ethics, and artificial intelligence, understanding the distinction between human and nonhuman is crucial. This distinction raises questions about how nonhuman entities are treated in society.
Synonyms
alien, animal, extraterrestrial, synthetic.
Examples of usage
- Nonhuman animals deserve ethical consideration.
- The research focused on nonhuman primates.
- Nonhuman species play a crucial role in the ecosystem.
- The robot was designed to emulate nonhuman behaviors.
Etymology
The term 'nonhuman' is derived from the prefix 'non-', which comes from the Latin 'non', meaning 'not', and the word 'human', from the Latin 'humanus', meaning 'of or belonging to man'. The prefix 'non-' has been used in the English language since the 15th century. 'Human' has its roots in ancient languages, with close ties to terms in Greek and Sanskrit that denote people or mankind. The use of the word 'nonhuman' began to gain traction in the late 20th century, particularly in discussions surrounding animal rights, environmental ethics, and the study of artificial intelligence, as society increasingly began to confront the implications of how we interact with all entities outside of humanity.