To dehumanize someone means to treat them as if they're not fully human, denying them the dignity, respect, and basic rights that all people deserve. When you dehumanize others, you act as though they don't have feelings, thoughts, or value.

History shows many tragic examples. During World War II, the Nazis dehumanized Jewish people and other groups, which made it easier to commit terrible crimes against them. Throughout history, slavery in many parts of the world dehumanized enslaved people by treating them as property rather than as human beings with families, dreams, and rights.

Dehumanization can happen in smaller ways too. When bullies give someone a cruel nickname instead of using their real name, they're dehumanizing that person. When people talk about entire groups as if everyone in them is exactly the same, ignoring that each person is unique, they're dehumanizing them.

The opposite of dehumanizing someone is recognizing their humanity: seeing them as a real person with feelings, hopes, and struggles just like you. When you learn someone's name, listen to their story, or imagine how they might feel in a situation, you're doing the opposite of dehumanizing them.