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nonhuman

nonhuman

8 4.5
Something that does not belong to people, for example an animal or machine
  • adjective
  • /nɒnˈhjuːmən/
: no humano
  • There is no provision for the recognition of nonhuman beings as subjects having legal rights.
  • nonhuman primate
  • nonhuman animals
  • nonhuman species

Examples

  • Also, for medical purposes, nonhuman animals are being used as living laboratories.

    Academic text (1999)
  • You will notice that much of the equipment is familiar though designed for nonhuman technicians.

  • Do you see anything nonhuman?

  • And we never harm anyone, human or nonhuman.

  • So not only does the difference between human and nonhuman disappear, but also the one between organic and inorganic.

    Academic text (1997)
  • We may conclude that a barrier between human and nonhuman animals is believed to be permeable, if it exists at all.

    Academic text (2015)
  • Much debate has centered on the concept of the rights of sentient nonhuman beings.

    Academic text (1990)
  • Something nonhuman, but intelligent.

  • Our findings suggest that wild nonhuman primates are susceptible to HPIV3 infection.

    Academic text (2013)
  • Many researchers are studying the behavior of nonhuman animals in their natural habitats.

Synonyms

inhuman
vsnonhuman
9 6.5

Not like a person in shape or sound

is about things not produced by or appropriate for human beings
unhuman
vsnonhuman
1 8.5

Not having feelings or kindness that people usually have

is about things not made by or fitting human beings

Antonyms

∞ 1.0

Relating to people rather than animals or machines

How Human

human
∞ 1.0
humanlike
2 4.2
nonhuman
8 4.5
inanimate
11 5.3

Surface Forms

nonhuman positive

Morphology

nonhuman = human (transparent) = non + human

The prefix 'non-' clearly negates the adjective 'human', making the meaning straightforward.

Etymology

Nonhuman is made of the prefix non-, meaning 'not', and human, meaning 'person'. Think of it like nonstop or nonfiction, where non- simply means 'not', so nonhuman describes something that is 'not human', such as animals, machines, or other things not made by people.