Definitions
- Referring to the human race as a whole, regardless of gender. - Describing human beings collectively, often in a historical or evolutionary context. - Talking about humanity as a species, including both men and women.
- Referring to the human race as a whole, regardless of gender. - Describing human beings collectively, often with an emphasis on compassion, empathy, or kindness. - Talking about humanity as a species, including both men and women, with a focus on positive qualities.
List of Similarities
- 1Both words refer to the human race as a whole, regardless of gender.
- 2Both can be used interchangeably in many contexts.
- 3Both are inclusive of all human beings, regardless of ethnicity, nationality, or religion.
What is the difference?
- 1Connotation: Humankind emphasizes positive qualities such as compassion, empathy, and kindness, while mankind may be associated with a more neutral or even negative connotation due to its historical use.
- 2Usage: Humankind is more commonly used in academic or formal writing, while mankind is more common in everyday language.
- 3Gender: While both words are gender-neutral, mankind may be perceived as more male-centric due to the use of 'man' in the word.
- 4Emphasis: Humankind places more emphasis on the shared qualities and experiences of all human beings, while mankind may focus more on the historical or evolutionary aspects of humanity.
Remember this!
Mankind and humankind are synonyms that refer to the human race as a whole, regardless of gender. However, humankind is a more recent term that emphasizes positive qualities such as compassion and empathy, while mankind may be associated with a more neutral or negative connotation due to its historical use. Humankind is more commonly used in academic or formal writing, while mankind is more common in everyday language.
