humanize
UK: ˈhjuːmənaɪz | US: ˈhjuːmənaɪz
vt. to make something more humane or compassionate
vt. to give human characteristics to something non-human
vt. to refine or civilize behavior
The word "humanize" combines "human," derived from Latin humanus (relating to humans or kindness), and the suffix "-ize," from Greek -izein, which forms verbs meaning "to render" or "to make." The term emerged in the 17th century, reflecting Enlightenment ideals of cultivating empathy and rationality. It originally described refining behavior to align with humanistic values, later expanding to anthropomorphism (e.g., humanizing technology).
The new policy aims to humanize prison conditions.
The artist humanized the robot by giving it expressive eyes.
Education can humanize society by fostering empathy.
The novel humanizes historical figures through personal stories.
AI designers strive to humanize virtual assistants with natural speech.