Person

A person is a being regarded as a subject of moral and legal concern. In ordinary use, the term most often refers to a human being. In law, “person” also denotes any entity recognized as having rights and duties, such as a corporation or organization.

The word derives from Latin persona, originally meaning a mask worn by actors; by metaphor it came to denote a character or role and later the bearer of rights.

A natural person is a human being whose capacity to hold rights and duties is recognized by law and society. This recognition typically begins at birth (with variations by jurisdiction) and underpins civil, political, and social life. The concept contrasts with notional or juridical entities that act as persons under the law.

A legal person is an entity—such as a corporation, government agency, or association—recognized by the law as having the capacity to own property, enter contracts, sue and be sued, and assume obligations. Legal persons can have rights and duties distinct from those of individual human beings.

Philosophical and cultural discussions of personhood seek to specify what makes someone a person. Common considerations include consciousness, self-awareness, rational agency, and the capacity for intentional action and moral responsibility. Debates question whether non-human animals, artificial intelligences, or other beings could be persons, and how cultural contexts shape the idea of personhood and social belonging.

Human rights and civil law frame natural persons as bearing inherent dignity and universal rights, while legal persons may gain rights and duties through statutory recognition. Across cultures, personhood often intersects with identity, social role, kinship, and community membership.