Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word
subhuman. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
subhuman, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
subhuman in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
subhuman you have here. The definition of the word
subhuman will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
subhuman, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Etymology
From sub- + human.
Pronunciation
Adjective
subhuman (comparative more subhuman, superlative most subhuman)
- (inherently emic, often offensive) Lacking characteristics of a human in a way judged to be less than human by some value judgment, opinion, or belief system (as for example an anthropocentric view of nonhuman primates or a Nazi view of various human outgroups).
- As tendentiously asserted of humans.
- Synonym: infrahuman
- Antonyms: superhuman, suprahuman, ultrahuman
- Coordinate term: transhuman
A secret to Nazi power was that anyone from the ingroup could be turned upon and labeled as subhuman scum when some alleged Jewish ancestry was suddenly "discovered".
- As anthropocentrically asserted of nonhuman animals, especially in centuries past.
- Synonym: infrahuman
We say dolphin intelligence is subhuman; I suspect dolphins say our intelligence is subdolphin.
In the belief system of his day, chimpanzees were described as subhuman and asserted to be incapable of feeling pain.
Translations
less than human; lacking characteristics of a human
Noun
subhuman (plural subhumans)
- (inherently emic, usually offensive) Any sentient creature, especially a humanoid one, which is less than human by some value judgment, opinion, or belief system (as for example an anthropocentric view of nonhuman primates or a Nazi view of various human outgroups).
- Synonym: untermensch
- Antonyms: superhuman, übermensch
- Hypernym: humanoid
- Near-synonym: nonperson
Translations
See also