Posthumans

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Beings who exist or come into recognition after the death of their originator; entities evolved or enhanced beyond current human capabilities; concepts of future humans with advanced technological or biological traits
2. Individuals or creatures identified following the passing of their predecessor; forms that surpass contemporary human limitations; imagined or theoretical humans transformed by advanced science or technology
3. Entities emerging subsequent to the demise of original humans; advanced lifeforms surpassing existing human conditions; speculative future humans altered by innovation or evolution beyond traditional humanity

Etymology: "Posthumans" is the plural of "posthuman," formed from the prefix "post-" ("after") and "human." The construction is transparent: the prefix places the concept after humanity, as in "postwar" or "postmodern," so the term describes beings that come after the human condition as we know it. The sense of an advanced successor to humankind is a modern development, and the word is a compound built from familiar parts rather than an ancient coinage. Because the word is a plain compound, its meaning rests on the two elements alone. "Post-" gives the sense of succession in time or in stage, while "human" supplies the baseline being that is left behind. Speculative uses of the plural therefore name a whole imagined population of successors, whether they arise after humanity's extinction or through changes to human biology and technology.

Synonyms: transhumans, augmented humans, enhanced humans

Antonyms: humans, prehumans