nonhuman
nonhuman — adjective
- nonhumanpositive
- more nonhumancomparative
- most nonhumansuperlative
1. describing something that is not a person — used of animals, machines, plants, o
describing something that is not a person — used of animals, machines, plants, or any living or non-living thing that does not belong to the human species.
Rohan was amazed by the robot arm's nonhuman speed on the assembly line.
nonhuman + noun for describing machines
Amara studies nonhuman primates to understand how social bonds form in groups.
collocation: nonhuman primates
The city ordinance now protects both human visitors and nonhuman wildlife in the wetland reserve.
Wei's research center in Osaka focuses on nonhuman animal communication.
- non-human
same meaning, hyphenated variant
- animal
narrower — only refers to living creatures, not machines or objects
- other-than-human
academic phrasing, used in anthropology and ethics
- human
the direct opposite — belonging to people
文法句型
nonhuman + noun
be + nonhuman
用法筆記
This is the more common sense of nonhuman. It is a neutral, factual term — unlike inhuman, which carries a negative moral judgment.
常見錯誤
2. having qualities that feel beyond ordinary human experience — for example, the s
having qualities that feel beyond ordinary human experience — for example, the stillness of a wild animal, the precision of a machine, or the beauty of a divine figure.
The old temple bell produced a nonhuman resonance that vibrated through the stone walls.
nonhuman + abstract noun (quality, beauty, strength)
A mountain goat showed nonhuman steadiness on the narrow ledge, unfazed by the gusting wind.
The marble goddess statue had a nonhuman stillness so cold that visitors whispered.
The factory robots moved with nonhuman precision that made visitors stop and stare.
- superhuman
focuses on god-like or above-human abilities; narrower than nonhuman
- inhuman
similar but often implies coldness or cruelty rather than neutral otherness
- mechanical
specifically machine-like, lacking emotion
- human-like
possessing distinctly human qualities
文法句型
nonhuman + noun
seem/appear + nonhuman
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1 (NOT HUMAN): sense 1 classifies something as not belonging to people; sense 2 describes a quality that seems to come from outside ordinary human experience. Frequently used with abstract nouns like beauty, strength, patience, and calm.
常見錯誤
nonhuman — noun
- nonhumansingular
- nonhumansplural
1. a living being or object which falls outside the human category — includes anima
a living being or object which falls outside the human category — includes animals, robots, spirits, plants, or any entity not counted as a person.
The committee debated whether nonhumans such as dolphins deserve legal rights.
nonhumans as a countable noun
Kwame's philosophy class explored the moral status of nonhumans in experiments.
The university ethics committee published new guidelines for research involving nonhumans such as laboratory mice.
In the science fiction novel, nonhumans and humans share a peaceful underwater city.
- non-person
legal term; narrower — used in rights discourse
- other-than-human being
academic phrasing, used in environmental ethics
- creature
broader; can include humans in some contexts
文法句型
nonhumans + verb
nonhumans such as + noun phrase
用法筆記
Used primarily in academic, legal, or philosophical writing. In everyday conversation, speakers prefer specific terms (animals, machines, robots) rather than the general category nonhumans.