dehumanize

This term describes a psychological or systemic process of stripping away the perceived humanity of others. It is most frequently used in political, sociological, and historical contexts to explain how genocide or systemic abuse becomes possible by framing victims as animals, objects, or monsters, thereby removing the moral barrier against violence.

In a modern institutional context, the word shifts toward a critique of coldness and inefficiency. It describes the feeling of being treated as a number or a cog in a machine rather than a person with unique needs and emotions, often applied to corporate environments or medical bureaucracies.