human-centric
|hu-man-cen-tric|
/ˌhjuːmənˈsɛntrɪk/
centered on people
Etymology
'human-centric' originates from English, specifically formed from the adjective 'human' (from Latin 'humanus', where 'humanus' meant 'of man' or 'humane') and the combining element '-centric' (ultimately from Greek 'kentron', via Latin 'centrum'/'centricus', where 'kentron' meant 'center').
'human' changed from Latin 'humanus' into Old French and then into Middle English 'humain'/'human', while the element '-centric' comes through Greek 'kentron' > Latin 'centrum' > Old French 'centre' and the Late Latin/Medieval Latin adjective 'centricus'; in modern English the combining form '-centric' was used to create compounds (e.g. 'ethnocentric'), and 'human-centric' emerged in modern usage (20th century onward) as a compound adjective.
Initially the components meant 'of/relating to humans' and 'center', so the compound originally meant 'centered on humans'; over time the term retained this core meaning but broadened to specific technical and policy contexts (design, UX, AI governance) with emphases on user experience and human values.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
design or approach that places human needs, experiences, and limitations at the center of decision-making (often used in design, UX, product development).
The team adopted a human-centric design process to ensure the product is intuitive for users.
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Adjective 2
policy, philosophy, or practice that prioritizes human welfare, rights, or values above other considerations (e.g., economic or technological priorities).
Advocates argue for a human-centric approach to AI governance to protect citizens' rights.
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Last updated: 2025/10/10 15:55