Mankind Meaning
/mænˈkaɪnd/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounThe human race in its entirety.
nounMen collectively, as opposed to all women.
Sentence Examples
Do you think mankind will someday colonize the Moon?
Ultimately, space flight will be beneficial to all mankind.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The invention of writing was a great step forward for ____, allowing knowledge to be passed.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The discovery of fire was a major turning point for ____, allowing for many different advancements today.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English mankynde, alteration (due to kynde = “kind, nature, sort”) of earlier mankyn, from Old English mancynn. Equivalent to man + kin, and/or man + -kind. Cognate with Scots mankind, Middle High German mankünne, Danish mandkøn, Icelandic mannkyn (“mankind”). See also mankin.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"The examples of all ages shew us that mankind in general desire power only to do harm, and, when they obtain it, use it for no other purpose."
— 1749, Henry Fielding, The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling:
"Malone's hot blood flushed to his head as he thought of this trifler, this insect, coming between mankind and a message of instruction and consolation descending from above."
— 1925 July – 1926 May, A[rthur] Conan Doyle, “(please specify the chapter number)”, in The Land of Mist (eBook no. 0601351h.html), Australia: Project Gutenberg Australia, published April 2019:
"More than a mere source of Promethean sustenance to thwart the cold and cook one's meat, wood was quite simply mankind's first industrial and manufacturing fuel."
— 2006, Edwin Black, chapter 2, in Internal Combustion:
"It next moves through the history of the Jewish people, recounting the life and death of our Lord and Savior, and ends with the Book of Revelation foretelling the inevitable climax of God's plan for mankind."
— 2011, David Charles Cole, Understanding God's Message for Mankind: Essential Scripture and Commentary, page 1:
"Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination."
— 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Leviticus 18:22:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The invention of writing was a great step forward for ____, allowing knowledge to be passed.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The discovery of fire was a major turning point for ____, allowing for many different advancements today.