Meaning & use
human dignity
Last updated
UK/ˌhjuːmən ˈdɪɡnəti/
US/ˌhjuːmən ˈdɪɡnəti/
Meaning
noununcountable
The idea that every person has equal worth and deserves to be treated with respect, whatever their circumstances.
Grammar: Uncountable: no plural and no article needed.
Patterns
- respect for human dignity
- violate human dignity
The law is meant to protect human dignity.
Treating prisoners cruelly violates human dignity.
Nurses try to preserve human dignity even in the hardest moments.
Common combinations
- respect human dignity
- Employers must respect human dignity.
- violate human dignity
- Torture violates human dignity.
- protect human dignity
- Laws protect human dignity.
- basic human dignity
- Everyone is owed basic human dignity.
- affront to human dignity
- The conditions were an affront to human dignity.
Synonyms and how they differ
- self-respect
- Self-respect is about how you value yourself, but human dignity concerns how every person should be treated.
- honor
- Honor often involves reputation or duty, while human dignity is about equal worth.
- worth
- Worth is more general and can describe things, while human dignity applies only to persons.
Word family
Commonly confused: human dignity or dignity?
human dignity vs dignity
Dignity can describe one person's manner; human dignity is a broader principle about everyone.
Practice
Which action most clearly threatens human dignity?
Choose one answer.
Degrading conditions deny people basic respect. The other actions show courtesy.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “human dignity”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.
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