humility

/(h)juˈmɪlədi/

/hjuˈmɪlɪti/

Other forms: humilities

Humility is the quality of being humble. If you meet one of your heroes and feel nervous and in awe of her, you are experiencing humility.

Humility comes from the Latin word humilis, which literally means "low." If you feel humility in front of someone, you feel small in the scheme of things — that you are just a simple, insignificant person. Someone who spends his life taking care of others shows humility. Although it's related to humiliation (which makes you feel low in a bad way), humility is usually used to talk about a lack of ego.

Definitions of humility

1. noun

   a lack of arrogance or false pride
   “not everyone regards humility as a virtue”

   synonyms: humbleness

   antonyms:

   conceit

   the trait of being unduly vain and conceited; false pride

   types:

   meekness, subduedness

   a disposition to be patient and long suffering

   spinelessness

   the quality of lacking a strong character; an irresolute disposition

   type of:

   trait

   a distinguishing feature of your personal nature
2. noun

   a feeling of modesty about oneself or one's accomplishments
   “he was filled with humility at the sight of the Pope”

   synonyms: humbleness

   antonyms:

   pride

   a feeling of self-respect and personal worth

   types:

   meekness, submission

   the feeling of patient, submissive humbleness

   self-depreciation

   a feeling of being of little worth

   type of:

   feeling

   the experiencing of affective and emotional states