human relations

noun

plural in form but usually singular in construction
1
: a study of human problems arising from organizational and interpersonal relations (as in industry)
2
: a course, study, or program designed to develop better interpersonal and intergroup adjustments

Examples of human relations in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
San Bernardino public information officer Jeff Kraus told McClatchy News on March 10 that Elliott was a volunteer for the city’s human relations commission from December 2006 through 2014 and from March 2019 through March 2023. Julia Marnin, Sacramento Bee, 11 Mar. 2025 The company will offer a voluntary exit program to U.S.-based, full-time employees in People Operations, Google’s human relations division, starting in early March, according to a memo issued Tuesday by HR chief Fiona Cicconi that was viewed by CNBC. Jennifer Elias, CNBC, 27 Feb. 2025 The previous emails sent from OPM, in essence the government's human relations department, did not have any mention of termination -- those threats were issued only from Musk on his X platform. Ivan Pereira, ABC News, 26 Feb. 2025 Equally, key strands of service management functionality also extend through a business to help support tasks and workflows that may exist in human relations, finance and beyond. Adrian Bridgwater, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for human relations

Word History

First Known Use

1946, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of human relations was in 1946

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Cite this Entry

“Human relations.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/human%20relations. Accessed 15 Mar. 2025.

Medical Definition

human relations

noun, plural in form but usually singular in construction
1
: the social and interpersonal relations between human beings
2
: a course, study, or program designed to develop better interpersonal and intergroup adjustments

More from Merriam-Webster on human relations

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