post-human
|post-hu-man|
🇺🇸
/ˌpoʊstˈhjuːmən/
🇬🇧
/ˌpəʊstˈhjuːmən/
after or beyond the human
Etymology
'post-human' is formed from the prefix 'post-' (from Latin 'post', meaning 'after') attached to 'human' (from Latin 'humanus', relating to 'homo' meaning 'man' or 'human').
'post-' has been used in English since Old/Middle English as a prefix meaning 'after'. 'Human' comes from Latin 'humanus' via Old French and Middle English. The compound 'post-human' (and variant 'posthuman') is a modern formation, appearing in the 20th century and becoming common in late 20th and early 21st-century philosophical and technological discourse.
Originally the elements meant simply 'after' + 'human'; over time the compound took on a specialized modern sense referring to beings or conditions beyond the current human condition (philosophical, technological, biological).
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a being — whether biological, cybernetic, or otherwise — that exists beyond or has been significantly altered from the current human condition; often used in discussions of future evolution, enhancement, or artificial intelligence.
Many science-fiction writers imagine cities inhabited by post-humans with radically different needs and values.
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Adjective 1
relating to or denoting a hypothetical future condition or state that comes after or transcends current human nature, often as a result of advanced technology, biological modification, or evolutionary change.
Post-human ethics explores moral issues raised by beings whose capacities exceed those of present-day humans.
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Last updated: 2026/01/04 16:06