transhumanism: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowAcademic/Technical
Quick answer
What does “transhumanism” mean?
A philosophical and intellectual movement advocating the use of technology to enhance human intellectual, physical, and psychological capacities, ultimately to transcend human limitations.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A philosophical and intellectual movement advocating the use of technology to enhance human intellectual, physical, and psychological capacities, ultimately to transcend human limitations.
The study of the ethical, social, and cultural implications of using emerging technologies (like AI, genetic engineering, and nanotechnology) to fundamentally improve the human condition, potentially leading to a 'posthuman' future.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant orthographic or grammatical differences. The concept and term are used identically.
Connotations
Slightly more likely to be discussed in philosophical or ethical contexts in the UK, and in technological/entrepreneurial contexts in the US, though this is a minor tendency.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both dialects, confined to specialised discourse.
Grammar
How to Use “transhumanism” in a Sentence
subscribe to transhumanismadvocate transhumanismcritique transhumanismbe rooted in transhumanismVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “transhumanism” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- She holds a transhumanist worldview.
- It's a transhumanist ideal.
American English
- He is a transhumanist thinker.
- That's a core transhumanist belief.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. May appear in pitches for biotech or AI startups focused on human augmentation.
Academic
Common. Used in philosophy, ethics, future studies, and science & technology studies departments.
Everyday
Very rare. Unlikely to be used in casual conversation.
Technical
Common within futurist, AI research, and bioengineering communities.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “transhumanism”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “transhumanism”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “transhumanism”
- Spelling as 'transhuman' (the adjective) when meaning the philosophy ('transhumanism').
- Using it as a synonym for any futuristic technology, rather than the specific philosophical movement.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While science fiction often explores themes related to transhumanism, transhumanism itself is a serious philosophical and intellectual movement with real-world proponents and ethical debates.
In both British and American English, the primary stress is on 'hu' (trans-HU-manism). The 'a' in 'trans' is like the 'a' in 'trap'.
A key goal is achieving 'radical life extension', using biomedical technology to significantly extend the human lifespan, potentially indefinitely.
A major criticism is that it could lead to greater social inequality, creating a divide between enhanced 'post-humans' and unenhanced humans.
Transhumanism is usually academic/technical in register.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'TRANSforming HUMANS' through technology.
Conceptual Metaphor
HUMANITY IS A SYSTEM THAT CAN BE UPGRADED.
Practice
Quiz
Transhumanism is primarily concerned with: