Inhumanity

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The absence of empathy for fellow beings frequently manifests in acts of extreme cruelty
2. A disposition lacking compassion typically results in brutal treatment towards others
3. A lack of compassion for others often leads to severe mistreatment or suffering caused by one's actions

Etymology: Latin "inhumanitas" was already a fully formed word before English ever touched it. It combined "inhumanus," meaning "not humane" or "unkind," with the abstract suffix "-itas," which turns an adjective into a noun for a quality or state. The Latin noun could mean rudeness, boorishness, or savagery, and it passed into Middle French as "inhumanité," where the sense of cruelty became more prominent. From French, the word reached English, and the pattern of building it is plain to see: "inhuman," meaning lacking human kindness, plus the English "-ity" ending, which is the same suffix borrowed through French from Latin "-itas." English already had "humanity" meaning both the human race and kindness, so "inhumanity" was the natural opposite. Its meaning settled on acts of cruelty rather than mere coldness, which is why the word so often names atrocities rather than rudeness.

Synonyms: cruelty, barbarity, brutality

Antonyms: humanity, compassion, kindness