adjective
- having concern for or helping to improve the welfare and happiness of people.
- of or relating to ethical or theological humanitarianism.
- pertaining to the saving of human lives or to the alleviation of suffering: a humanitarian crisis.
noun
- a person actively engaged in promoting human welfare and social reforms, as a philanthropist.
- a person who professes ethical or theological humanitarianism.
adjective
- having the interests of mankind at heart
- of or relating to ethical or theological humanitarianism
noun
- a philanthropist
- an adherent of humanitarianism
n.1794 (n.) in the theological sense “one who affirms the humanity of Christ but denies his pre-existence and divinity,” from humanity + suffix from unitarian, etc.; see humanism. Meaning “philanthropist, one who advocates or practices human action to solve social problems” is from 1842, originally disparaging, with a suggestion of excess. As an adjective, by 1834.