What does subhuman mean?
Subhuman means below human in some important respect, most often intelligence, rationality, social organization, or moral capacity. As an adjective, it can describe animals, imagined beings, artificial systems, behavior, or conditions regarded as inferior to human standards. As a noun, it denotes a being classified as less than human, though that use is less common and can be deliberately degrading. The word frequently appears in science fiction, discussions of nonhuman animals, and arguments about artificial intelligence. It should not be confused with inhuman: subhuman identifies a level or status, while inhuman commonly describes cruelty or the denial of human dignity. Because subhuman carries a hierarchy built into its meaning, its use can reinforce the idea that some beings have less value or rights than others, so the context and the writer’s intention matter considerably.
Characterized by qualities considered below those of human beings, such as intelligence, rationality, or moral capacity.
"The laboratory avoided making judgments about whether the animals were subhuman."
This is the most common use. It is relatively formal and may be used in biological, technological, literary, or ideological contexts.
A being regarded as less than human in intelligence, social organization, moral status, or other respects.
"The story portrays the protagonist as a subhuman struggling to understand human language."
This use is less common and can sound dehumanizing, particularly when applied to people or groups.
The plural is used when referring to multiple beings classified as subhuman; the noun is relatively uncommon and often has a dehumanizing effect.
"The novel imagines subhumans living beneath the ruins of the old city."
“Subhuman” describes a level, while “inhuman” condemns a treatment: one asks how much less than human something is, the other asks how badly people are behaving.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does subhuman come from?
Subhuman is an English compound formed from the Latin-derived prefix sub-, meaning “under” or “below,” and human. The compound emerged in 19th-century English, when biological and social theories used comparisons between humans and other living beings. Human itself comes through Latin from humanus, related to homo, meaning a human being; words such as humanity, humane, and humanize belong to the same broader human root.
How subhuman is actually used
The adjective is more common than the noun and is often used in discussions of animals, artificial intelligence, speculative biology, and moral status. The noun can sound deliberately dehumanizing and is relatively uncommon. The word is generally formal, though it has appeared in science fiction and political or ideological language.
Easily confused with subhuman
Subhuman describes a level of development or status below the human, whereas inhuman more often describes cruelty, brutality, or a failure to treat others humanely.