# humanism

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈhjuːmənɪz(ə)m/ · frequency rank #29,314

## Definitions
1. The study of the humanities or the liberal arts; literary (especially classical) scholarship.
2. Specifically, a cultural and intellectual movement in 14th-16th century Europe characterised by attention to classical culture and a promotion of vernacular texts, notably during the Renaissance.
3. An ethical system that centers on humans and their values, needs, interests, abilities, dignity and freedom; especially used for a secular one which rejects theistic religion and superstition.
4. Humanitarianism.

## Etymology
From human + -ism, borrowed from German Humanismus, coined by Friedrich Immanuel Niethammer in 1808.

## Easily confused with
- **humanity** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/humanism-vs-humanity)
- **humanist** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/humanism-vs-humanist)

## Common misspellings (12)
`hhumanism`, `hmuanism`, `huamnism`, `humainsm`, `humanims`, `humanismm`, `humanissm`, `humannism`, `humansim`, `hummanism`, `humnaism`, `uhmanism`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/humanism