humanities

[/hjuːˈmænɪtiz/]
nounpl: N/A (already plural)
humanidades
1. Academic disciplines concerned with human culture, such as literature, philosophy, history, and languages, as opposed to sciences and mathematics
She decided to major in humanities instead of engineering.
Ela decidiu se especializar em humanidades em vez de engenharia.
2. The intellectual and cultural pursuits that express human values and experiences
The humanities help us understand human nature and society.
As humanidades nos ajudam a entender a natureza humana e a sociedade.
3. Studies of human existence, thought, and expression through subjects like art, music, literature, and philosophy
The university offers a strong humanities program.
A universidade oferece um forte programa de humanidades.
In Brazil, 'humanidades' refers to the academic division encompassing subjects like Portuguese, history, geography, and social sciences—distinct from exact sciences (exatas). In the United States, humanities is a major umbrella category in higher education, often contrasted with STEM. The term carries cultural weight regarding the value of non-technical education in modern society.
Synonyms / Sinônimos
liberal artssocial scienceslettersclassicscultural studies
Antonyms / Antônimos
sciencesSTEMmathematicsnatural sciences

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
humanidades
Standard academic term used in Brazilian universities
São Paulo
humanidades; letras
'Letras' (letters) sometimes used colloquially for humanities programs
Portugal
humanidades; ciências humanas
'Ciências humanas' (human sciences) is equally common in Portuguese usage
United States
humanities
Widely used in American higher education as distinct from STEM fields

Related Words

philosophyliteraturehistorylinguisticsartsanthropology

Related Idioms & Phrases

the humanities are dying
a degree in humanities
humanities core curriculum
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